SAINT AGAPIT, QUEBEC, February 1, 2008 — Mr. Jacques Gourde,
Member of Parliament for Lotbinière-Chutes de la Chaudière
and Parliamentary Secretary to the 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, today
announced that the Ressourcerie de Lotbinière will receive
funding through the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
This project will receive over $116,000 in funding to give persons
with disabilities an opportunity to develop their employability skills
profile, thereby facilitating their integration into the labour market.
For 50 weeks, participants will be followed by a caseworker and will take
part in various learning and personal development activities. They will
also be able to acquire work experience at the Ressourcerie's clothing
and domestic goods sorting centre.
"The Government of Canada has made a commitment to creating
the best-educated, most-skilled and most flexible work force in
the world," said Mr. Gourde. "This project will help persons with
disabilities in Lotbinière to become more independent and self-reliant
so they can fully participate in society."
Operating in the region since 1997, the Ressourcerie is a socio
economic organization whose mission is to promote social reintegration,
labour force adaptation and job creation. It also strives to improve
socio-economic conditions by offering modestly priced goods for sale.
The Government of Canada supports this project through the Opportunities Fund
for Persons with Disabilities. The Fund supports a wide range of employment
activities for unemployed persons with disabilities who are not normally
eligible for Employment Insurance benefits under the Employment Insurance Act.
With an annual budget of $30 million, the Opportunities Fund helps persons
with disabilities to prepare for, obtain, and retain employment or
self-employment, thereby improving their economic status.
The Opportunities Fund works in partnership with organizations,
including the private sector, to support an array of activities
such as encouraging employers to hire workers with disabilities,
increasing the employment skills of persons with disabilities,
providing work experience, and helping people to start their own business.
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