February 21, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST.JOHN'S, Newfoundland and Labrador- The Honourable Loyola Hearn, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide funding to help individuals in Newfoundland and Labrador gain work experience, explore career options, and find work.
"Our government is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world," said Minister Hearn. "Our investment will help more than 700 individuals in Newfoundland and Labrador find and keep quality jobs, and will also benefit local employers and the local economy in several communities."
More than $385,000 is being provided to seven organizations in Newfoundland and Labrador through Service Canada funding programs such as Employment Assistance Services, Labour Market Partnerships, Job Creation Partnerships, and Targeted Wage Subsidies. Under the Employment Assistance Services program, the Burgeo Town Council will receive $181,005. Under the Labour Market Partnerships program, the Town of Channel-Port aux Basques will receive $67,685, and the Fortune Bay East Development Association will receive $48,705. Under the Job Creation Partnerships program, the Smallwood Crescent Community Centre will receive $11,629, the Blomidon Golf and Country Club will receive $19,500, and St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Rocky Harbour will receive $12,750. In addition, Springdale Forest Resources Inc. will receive $46,200 under the Targeted Wage Subsidies program.
These projects reflect the Government of Canada's commitment to creating a strong economy for all Canadians. Through its Advantage Canada plan, the Government is building on Canada 's strengths and developing 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:
Lorne Lambert
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709-772-5346
Media Relations Office
Service Canada
819-994-5559
Public inquiries:
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TTY: 1-800-926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca
Background
Employment Assistance Services
The Employment Assistance Services (EAS) program supports projects aimed at helping insured participants gain the skills they need to find meaningful employment. 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.
The Burgeo Town Council will provide 600 unemployed people with employment services to assist them in preparing for, obtaining, and maintaining employment or in returning to school.
Job Creation Partnerships
The Job Creation Partnerships employment benefit supports projects aimed at giving insured participants opportunities to gain meaningful work experience. When the projects are complete, clients will have recent work experience to add to their résumés. This experience, together with the networking opportunities available while on a project, increases participants' chances of successfully finding long-term employment.
The Smallwood Crescent Community Centre Inc. of Marystown will hire two unemployed people to work for 42 weeks as community kitchen co-ordinators.
The Blomidon Golf and Country Club in Corner Brook will hire six unemployed people for 10 weeks to carry out a variety of renovations to the club's facilities.
St. Matthew's Anglican Church in Rocky Harbour will hire four unemployed people for 14 weeks to carry out various improvements to their building.
Targeted Wage Subsidies
The Targeted Wage Subsidies program provides funding to employers to encourage them to hire individuals whom they would not normally hire without a subsidy. The program helps unemployed individuals enhance their skills and improve their employability, and provides employers with financial assistance to help pay the wages of the eligible individuals they hire.
Springdale Forest Resources Inc. will provide five people with 28 weeks of meaningful work experience in various mining exploration activities.
Labour Market Partnerships
The Labour Market Partnerships program allows communities to improve their capacity for dealing with human resources requirements and for implementing labour force adjustments that support long-term job creation. Funding up to a maximum of three years can be provided under Labour Market Partnerships .
The Fortune Bay East Development Association will undertake research to resolve skills gaps within the water resource, aquaculture, and manufacturing sectors. This funding will ensure that labour market issues facing these industries are dealt with in a co-ordinated manner.
The Town of Channel-Port aux Basques will develop a labour force adjustment strategy for the town which will include a strategic economic development plan (SEP). The SEP will identify potential employment areas for the 120 people who were displaced by the closure of the local fish plant.
