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May 3, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
04-38
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - The Honourable Mauril Bélanger, Deputy Leader of the Government in the House of Commons, on behalf of the Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced Government of Canada funding of $2,700,230. One project, the Sectoral Liaison Unit-Phase II, is handled by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). Three other projects are being undertaken by the Canada Career Consortium (CCC): the CCC Infrastructure, the National Consultation on Career Development (NATCON), and the Connecting Sectoral Career Information with Provinces/Territories. All these projects are funded under the Government of Canada's Sector Council Program.
"I am very pleased to be making this announcement today to support the transition of Canada's labour force as it moves from school to work and from job to job," said Mr. Bélanger. "All of us-workers, employers, educators and governments-must contribute to making skills upgrading and training more responsive to changing labour market needs and workplace priorities."
The main objective of the Sectoral Liaison Unit-Phase II project is to enable the ACCC to continue working with sector councils to enhance the relevance and responsiveness of technical education to emerging sectoral needs and requirements. The project is also aimed at increasing synergies between the college system and sector councils so Canadian workers are learning the skills needed for today's workplace.
"ACCC is grateful for HRSDC's support at the national level to foster effective partnerships between sector councils and our extensive network of colleges and institutes across Canada. This project will contribute substantially to workforce development through enhanced learning opportunities for new entrants and existing workers," said Gerry Brown, ACCC President.
Through its Infrastructure project, the CCC is being provided with stable performance-based operating funds that will enable it to identify labour market trends, develop partnerships with provinces and territories, and provide programs and services that support workplace skills development over 24 months. The CCC will focus on representing the collective interests of sector councils and other industry partners. It will also forge links with the education system and be results-based.
The objective of the NATCON project is to hold an annual event that brings together sector council representatives, career information specialists and educators from the private, public and education sectors to share information on human resources and career development issues. The next NATCON event will be held January 24 to 26, 2005, in Ottawa.
The Connecting Sectoral Career Information with Provinces/Territories project will help foster inter-jurisdictional collaboration between sector councils, career development practitioners and intermediaries involved in providing career information programs. With assistance from the Canada Career Information Partnership (CCIP), the CCC will support an integrated national delivery strategy for sector council career information products; collaborate on the content development, and act as a forum for sharing expertise.
"With this funding, the CCC will continue to support 29 sector councils and the thousands of employers involved with sector councils who are in need of skilled workers, as well as countless Canadians looking for new or better jobs and workplace opportunities," said Richard Lipman, Secretary-Treasurer, CCC Board of Directors, and Executive Director, Wood Manufacturing Council.
Today's announcement follows the Prime Minister's commitment to develop a Workplace Skills Strategy (WSS), as outlined in his reply to the 2004 Speech from the Throne. The WSS will recognize that the workplace is an important venue where both employers and workers face the challenges of skills and labour shortages associated with the rapid technological and demographic changes that are transforming the Canadian economy. This strategy will build upon current government programs and activities, including the Sector Council Program.
The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) is the national, voluntary membership organization created in 1972 to represent colleges and institutes to government, business and industry, both in Canada and internationally. With an Ottawa-based Secretariat, ACCC interacts with federal departments and agencies on the members' behalf and links college capabilities to national industries. As another part of its mandate, ACCC organizes conferences and workshops for college staff, students and Board members to facilitate networking and participation in national and international activities such as sector studies, awards programs and linkages.
The Canada Career Consortium (CCC) was incorporated in 1999 as a national forum to initiate, develop and coordinate career and labour market information to enable all Canadians to make transitions. Through its networks, the CCC identifies labour market issues and shares best practices in the development, delivery, implementation and assessment of workplace skills initiatives and career information.
Funding for these projects was provided for in the March 2004 federal Budget.
These projects comply with all departmental administrative rules governing grants and contributions, and provisions of the Financial Administration Act, and are subject to review to ensure compliance with the objectives of the program.
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For more information:
Stephanie Lewis
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
(819) 994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(819) 994-5559
