May 01, 2003

Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford has announced enrolment in the social work program at the Winnipeg Education Centre (WEC) will double to 50 seats with additional funding of $496,000 from the province.

"Through this increase to ACCESS bursaries, academic and personal supports, 25 Aboriginal students will be accepted into the social work program," McGifford said. "The Winnipeg Education Centre program offers a supportive, culturally respectful learning environment and has been very successful in pioneering the integration of Aboriginal people into post-secondary education."

Manitoba’s ACCESS programs were created to enhance accessibility and successful completion of post-secondary education for under-represented groups in the university system, including Aboriginals, immigrants, people with disabilities and inner-city residents.

The Winnipeg Education Centre’s inner-city ACCESS program was established 21 years ago to improve accessibility to post-secondary education in social work. The program is taught in an off-campus site, with several student supports built into the program to ensure successful completion of a degree.

"We are pleased the Inner City Social Work Program has been chosen to have a professional education role in this initiative," said program director Kim Clare. "The Manitoba government, together with the new First Nations and Metis Child Welfare authorities, are embarking on a historic and empowering transformation in the delivery of child welfare services. It will be an exciting journey at WEC to have an enhanced opportunity to work with Aboriginal students as they pursue a degree and prepare to work in the dynamic and critical field of child welfare."

In response to recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Implementation Committee (AJIC), the Province of Manitoba introduced legislation last year to improve the child and family service system and to make it more responsive the needs and cultures of all Manitobans. The legislation created four new organizations, called child and family services authorities, which will manage the delivery of services under the restructured system. The initiative includes representatives from the provincial government, Manitoba Metis Federation, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak.

"This support strengthens our ability to respond to the need for more Aboriginal social workers, as the historic restructuring of the child welfare system continues as part of the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry - Child Welfare Initiative," said Family Services and Housing Minister Drew Caldwell. "This expanded ACCESS program will continue a tradition of success by offering academic and personal supports for students, which will also strengthen families and help build better communities."

"Increasing access to college and university education and training opportunities for all Manitobans is a high priority of our government," McGifford said. "Programs such as this complement the life experiences of many students and will have a long-term benefit for Manitoba’s economy as well as the social welfare system."

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On June 21, 2002, the province established a committee of cabinet to oversee efforts to implement the recommendations of the Aboriginal Justice Implementation Commission (AJIC) report, as part of a comprehensive strategy. The members of the AJIC Committee include the minister of Aboriginal and northern affairs and the attorney general as co-chairs; the minister of family services and housing; the minister of advanced education and training; the minister responsible for the Civil Service Commission; and the minister of conservation.

To date, almost 90 per cent of the recommendations in the AJIC report directed at the province are completed or are underway.

1. Legislation creating an improved child and family services system that is more responsive to the needs and cultures of all Manitobans was passed in the Manitoba legislature in 2002. The historic process of changing the system is led by the Aboriginal Justice Inquiry - Child Welfare Initiative (AJI-CWI), which includes representatives from the provincial government, Manitoba Metis Federation, Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs and Manitoba Keewatinowi Okimakanak. The legislation created four new organizations, called child and family services authorities, which will manage the delivery of services under the restructured system.
2. Manitoba Conservation has signed memorandums of understanding with the Manitoba Metis Federation to facilitate discussions on a co-operative arrangement regarding resource sectors; and with the West Regional Tribal Council and Opaskwayak Cree Nation for the co-management of resources. Also, the East Side Lake Winnipeg Planning initiative is underway and will include a round table to prepare a broad land use plan for this area.
3. Manitoba's Women's Jail is to be replaced with a modern correctional centre. The safety and security of the public is a key priority as the province moves forward on consultations with Aboriginal governments and other key stakeholders on this new facility.
4. A community-based Aboriginal restorative justice program, operated by Onashowewin and developed jointly by the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg and the Southern Chiefs Organization is being developed.
5. Devolution of probation services continues, in conjunction with the Aboriginal community.
6. To complement Manitoba’s Northern Development Strategy, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs has developed a working group to promote and support Aboriginal participation in the province’s economy. A forum will be held on this topic in May.

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