March 15, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR — Loyola Hearn, Member of Parliament for St. John’s South - Mount Pearl, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development today announced funding of $301,883 for two projects targeted to help 114 unemployed individuals in the metropolitan St. John’s and Gander areas.
“Our new government is working with community organizations to give unemployed people the resources they need to help them find and keep employment,” said Minister Hearn. "These projects will offer a wide range of special employment services and help participants become better prepared for the workforce."
“Participants in these projects will gain a better understanding of their options in the labour market,” said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment for Newfoundland and Labrador . “They will benefit from proactive on-the-job support by employers as well as access to ongoing counselling as required to deal with changes in the workplace.”
People looking for assistance in preparing for, finding and keeping employment in the St. John’s area, may wish to visit Women Interested in Successful Employment (WISE) which is located in the Viking Building on Crosbie Road. In Gander, the WISE office is located at Keyin College on Airport Boulevard. Some of the specific services that will be available include a needs assessment and a 12-week empowerment program as well as counselling, job search techniques, and labour market information. These projects are just two of many services funded through Service Canada to help people find jobs.
This project is funded through Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s (HRSDC) EAS Program. EAS helps unemployed individuals by providing counselling, job search techniques, job preparedness, and labour market information. The federal government, as represented by HRSDC, and the provincial government, as represented by Human Resources, Labour and Employment, are working to help individuals find employment under the programs and services offered under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement.
Service Canada provides Canadians with one-stop, easy-to-access personalized service. Whether a person is in need of a Social Insurance Number or are looking for an organization to help with a job search, a local Service Canada Centre can help. Many services can be accessed in a convenient way, by phone through 1 800 O-Canada, by Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, by mail or in person. Job-seekers can be matched to employers in their community through JobBank.ca.
- 30 -
This news release is available in alternative formats, on request. Call 1 800 788-8282 on a touch-tone phone, or through a teletypewriter (TTY).
For more information (media only):
Lorne Lambert
Communications, Service Canada
St. John’s (709) 772-5346
Ed Moriarity Director of Communications
Human Resources, Labour and Employment
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (709) 729-4062
Media Relations OfficeService Canada(819) 994-5559
Public Enquiries:
1 800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) TTY: 1 800 926-9105servicecanada.gc.ca
Backgrounder
Employment Assistance Services (EAS) provides funding to organizations for the provision of employment services to help clients re-enter the labour market.
All unemployed Canadians have access to a range of services through EAS activities. However, some EAS activities are available only to those clients who are eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI), or who have recently been in receipt of EI benefits.
Services such as the following are offered within EAS - providing and sharing labour market information; help with preparing a résumé; career planning; employment counselling; diagnostic assessment; job search skills; job finding clubs and job placement services.
Eligible recipients or coordinators of EAS are businesses (including federal crown corporations and comparable Provincial/Territorial crown corporations), organizations, individuals, public health and educational institutions, municipal governments and band/tribal councils are eligible to receive funding and act as employers or coordinators for the activities, as well as some of the Provincial/Territorial government departments and agencies.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the May 2006 Federal Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department’s administration of its Grants and Contributions programs, and is subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
