November 10, 2022 · Membertou, No'pa Sko'sia (Nova Scotia) · Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)
Atlantic Canada's First Nations population is one of the fastest growing and youngest in Canada, with a median age of 33. Despite this, research shows that only 1.5 per cent of people working in Atlantic Canada's digital industry are Indigenous.
The Mi'kmaw Economic Benefits Office of Nova Scotia (MEBO) plays a crucial role in addressing this underrepresentation. Through leadership and programming, the not-for-profit encourages Mi'kmaq youth in Unama'ki/Cape Breton to pursue careers in trades and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and gives them the professional and technical skills required to obtain well-paying jobs.
Supporting collaboration between community, government, and industry
Today, Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Sydney-Victoria, announced a non-repayable contribution of $823,721, through ACOA's Regional Economic Growth through Innovation (REGI) program, to the Mi'kmaw Economic Benefits Office of Nova Scotia. The announcement was made on behalf of the Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Official Languages and Minister responsible for ACOA.
This contribution is helping the non-profit support operational costs over the next two years and maintain key staff positions. These staff oversee the delivery of training in trades, as well as the Pathways in Technology Early College High school program (P-TECH). In addition, they help connect Indigenous post-secondary students to the labour market.
Today's announcement further demonstrates the Government of Canada's commitment to encouraging Indigenous involvement in economic development, creating good opportunities for Indigenous youth and diversifying Canada's workforces by engaging underrepresented groups.
