SAGUENAY, QUEBEC, June 11, 2007 — The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and Mr. Sam Hamad, the Quebec Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity were in Saguenay today to announce $2.7 million in funding for six projects to facilitate the reintegration into the work force of 400 older workers who have been laid off in three regions of Quebec.
This announcement builds on the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, which was established in October 2006. The Initiative sets out a joint investment of $27 million over two years by the Government of Canada and the Government of Quebec to help over 3,500 older workers affected by plant closures or downsizing, particularly in the forestry sector.
"Canada's New Government has made a commitment to creating the best educated, most skilled and most flexible work force in the world. Since there is currently a worker shortage in Canada, we cannot, and must not, overlook the experience of older workers. If they are given active support, these workers will continue to make an important contribution to their communities," said Minister Blackburn.
To date, a total of six organizations' projects have been accepted—Groupe Humanis-Technologies, the Commission scolaire du Pays des Bleuets and Forgescom in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean region, the agencies Stratégie Focus 45 ans et plus and Vision-Travail in the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region, and the Commission scolaire de la Baie James in Northern Quebec.
"In recent months, a large number of workers with experience mainly in the forestry sector have been laid off. It is vital to redirect this quality work force into more promising sectors. That is what is achieved by the six projects announced today under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers," said Minister Hamad.
The six sponsoring agencies will offer personalized, adapted support to older workers who have been laid off. In order to help them find new employment, the agencies will assess the workers' skills to determine how transferable they are to another sector, teach them job search strategies, and provide them with assisted placement and peer mentoring.
The Canada-Quebec Agreement, which made the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers possible, was signed in late October 2006. The six projects announced today are the first to result from this $27-million agreement, which will expire on March 31, 2009. Seventy per cent of the total funding is provided by the federal government, and thirty per cent by the Government of Quebec.
The attached backgrounder contains a description of the six projects.
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Additional information (media only):
Claire Rémillard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity
418-643-4810
Lesley Harmer
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
BACKGROUNDER
SUMMARY OF THE PROJECTS ANNOUNCED UNDER THE TARGETED INITIATIVE FOR OLDER WORKERS
Project: Humanis
Sponsor: Groupe Humanis-Technologies
Partner(s): Commission scolaire des Rives-du-Saguenay, Service de la formation continue du CEGEP de Jonquière and Accès-Travail-Emploi
Number of participants: 95
Cost of the project: $570,217
Description: The purpose of the Humanis project is to reintegrate into the work force 95 laid-off workers from the forestry sector, who are over the age of 55. The proposed assisted placement involves supporting participants in employment assistance activities, such as the preparation of tools and job search strategies. Recruiters will search the region for jobs that could meet the needs of the laid-off workers. Workers will be matched with jobs. The project will make it possible for participants to enhance their employability through personalized follow-up and mentoring. Previously, 50 such workers were able to benefit from employability enhancement services, such as personal and professional assessments and activities geared toward facilitating career changes.
Duration: 125 hours for the majority of participants
Regions served: The city of Saguenay and the municipality of Fjord du Saguenay
Project: Au Pays des Bleuets
Sponsor: Commission scolaire du Pays-des-Bleuets
Number of participants: 60
Cost of the project: $427,500
Description: The project proposes a personalized approach designed to develop, improve and perfect the labour market entry skills of 60 workers, who have been laid off in the forestry or other sectors. The majority of these workers are between the ages of 55 and 64. A system to locate jobs and match them with workers will be put in place to improve these workers' chances of reintegration into the labour force.
Duration: 125 hours per participant
Regions served: The Maria-Chapdelaine and Domaine-du-Roy municipalities
Project: Forgescom
Sponsor: Centre Forgescom
Partner(s): Intervention travail (Club de recherche d'emploi)
Number of participants: 45 laid-off workers, mainly from the forestry sector. The majority of participants are between the ages of 55 and 64.
Cost of the project: $327,050
Description: Individual or group projects designed to develop, improve and perfect labour force reintegration skills. Individual coaching will be available throughout the process, which is based on personalized service to improve the chances of success.
Duration: 125 hours per participant
Regions served: The Lac-Saint-Jean-Est municipality
Project: Ressources Emploi 2
Sponsor: Organisme Stratégie Focus 45 ans et plus - Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Number of participants: 100 participants, mainly from the forestry and mining sectors. The majority of participants are between the ages of 55 and 64.
Cost of the project: $629,725
Description: The purpose of this project is to help older workers to reintegrate into the labour force. Various activities are planned, such as individual and group counselling, and career change and skills transfer. In particular, the project will help participants to assess their skills and develop an action plan. Participants will benefit from personalized, adapted support throughout the project.
Duration: 10 weeks per participant
Regions served: The Abitibi and Vallée-de-l'Or municipalities
Project: Projet pour travailleurs âgés de 55 ans et plus
Sponsor: Vision-Travail Abitibi-Témiscamingue
Number of participants: 85 participants from the forestry and mining sectors. The majority of participants are 55 years or older.
Cost of the project: $590,200
Description: The purpose of this project is to enhance the employability of participants, particularly through individual counselling, self-awareness activities, the assessment and transfer of skills, company visits and meetings with employers.
Duration: 12 weeks per participant
Regions served: The Abitibi Ouest, Rouyn-Noranda and Témiscamingue municipalities
Sponsor: Commission scolaire de la Baie-James
Number of participants: 15 workers from the forestry sector who are between the ages of 55 to 64
Cost of the project: $158,623
Description: The purpose of the project is to reintegrate into sustainable employment experienced workers affected by mass layoffs. A number of methods will be used, including developing a skills assessment, identifying potential occupations, transferring skills according to choice of occupation, providing job search techniques and retraining, and contacting companies.
Duration: 19 weeks per participant
Regions served: The communities in Jamésie and, particularly, the Lebel-sur-Quévillon municipality
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