December 17, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FERNIE, British Columbia— Jim Abbott, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage and Member of Parliament for Kootenay–Columbia, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced a three-year funding package for the College of the Rockies to help unemployed workers in Fernie and the surrounding area prepare for, obtain, and maintain jobs.
“Our government is proud to support community organizations, like the College of the Rockies, that help unemployed individuals find and keep quality jobs,” said Mr. Abbott. “Not only will our investment help more than 3,300 individuals in the Fernie area who need employment and career assistance, but it will also benefit local employers and the local economy. ”
The College of the Rockies’ Elk Valley Employment Assistance Services program will receive $701,665 in funding from Service Canada’s Employment Assistance Services program. Through access to job-search facilities, job-search workshops, employment counselling, and employment-readiness programs and services, this project will help more than 3,300 individuals gain the skills they need to find and maintain employment.
“The funding from the Government of Canada allows us to provide this much-needed service to thousands of residents and newcomers seeking meaningful employment,” said Leah Bradish, Campus Manager of the College of the Rockies’ Fernie Campus. “The funds also benefit local businesses by assisting them in attracting workers in our current labour market.”
This project reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to creating a strong economy for all Canadians. Through Advantage Canada , the Government is building on Canada’s strengths and gaining a global competitive advantage by creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world, reducing taxes for all Canadians, increasing competition in the marketplace, and building modern infrastructure.
Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however they choose—by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.
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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).
Media inquiries:
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Media Relations Office
Service Canada
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Public inquiries:
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TTY: 1-800-926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca
Backgrounder
Employment Assistance Services
The Employment Assistance Services (EAS) program provides funding to organizations that offer employment services to help clients re-enter the labour market. Funding for the EAS program was provided for in the March 2007 federal budget.
All unemployed Canadians have access to a range of services under the EAS program. However, some EAS offerings are available only to clients who are eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, or who have recently been receiving EI benefits.
Employment Assistance Services include providing clients with information about the labour market, help preparing résumés, career-planning services, employment counselling, diagnostic assessment, help with job-search skills, job-finding clubs, and job-placement services.
Eligible recipients of EAS funding are businesses (including federal Crown corporations and provincial/territorial Crown corporations), organizations, individuals, public health and educational institutions, municipal governments, and band/tribal councils, as well as some provincial/territorial government departments and agencies. These entities act as employers or service coordinators under the program.
This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with Service Canada’s administration of its grants and contributions programs, and is subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
