Mr. Speaker, aboriginal people, to give another example, remain under-represented in the labour market and often face multiple barriers to employment. They are Canada's youngest and fastest-growing population group, but we are concerned that their rate of participation in the workforce is lower than the national average. Improving economic opportunities for aboriginal people remains a priority for our government. At the federal level, we are taking action to help aboriginal people gain skills and work experience. We are doing that through investments and partnerships with the private sector. This includes three key activities.
First, nearly $250 million is being invested over five years to improve the on-reserve income assistance program to help ensure aboriginal youth can access the skills and training they need to secure employment.
Second, our government is investing $1.6 billion over five years in the aboriginal skills and employment training strategy. This is an integrated approach to aboriginal labour market programming that links training to labour market demand.
Third, the skills and partnership fund helps respond to the changing needs and priorities of the labour market, while providing opportunities for aboriginal people to fully participate in Canada's economy.
In addition, economic action plan 2014 will help aboriginal people build a better future for themselves and their families. This includes $1.25 billion in support of the first nations control of first nations education act, $323.4 million over two years to continue to implement the first nations water and waste water action plan, and $303 million annually in support of first nations housing needs on reserves.
To paraphrase the Minister of Employment and Social Development, the paradox of our time is too many people without jobs and too many jobs without people. One person said recently at our human resources committee that the key will be matching talent to task. Many unemployed Canadians do not have the right skills for the jobs available. It is particularly challenging for young people who do not have the skills or the work experience. That is why we need to do a better job of making a compelling case to more young Canadians to consider a future in the skilled trades.
For too long, we have settled for this beige, one-size-fits-all approach to youth employment, which has essentially been to tell kids to stay in school for as long as they can while in many ways frowning on vocational schools and apprenticeship training.
The Government of Canada is helping Canadian youth get the skills employers are looking for with the Canada job grant, the apprenticeship incentive grant, the apprenticeship completion grant, the Canada apprentice loan, and through help from certain tax credits, such as tuition, education, and textbook tax credits.
As Canada is facing labour shortages, the government is investing in youth employment, skills and apprenticeship programs—