NANAIMO, British Columbia, March 26, 2008 - The first 12 projects funded through the Canada-British Columbia Agreement on Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) will help older workers living in British Columbia retrain for new careers.
The projects were announced today by Nanaimo-Alberni MP James Lunney, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Federal Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon, on behalf of the Honourable Colin Hansen, B.C.'s Minister of Economic Development.
The governments of Canada and British Columbia are jointly awarding over $7.5 million to 12 organizations across the province to deliver community-based projects that will help an estimated 900 unemployed older workers, mostly from the forestry industry.
"The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible work force in the world, and that work force includes older workers," said Lunney. "We cannot, and must not, overlook the experience of these workers who want to continue contributing to their communities, and to the Canadian economy."
The Government of Canada, in its 2008 budget, announced new measures to assist older workers, including a $90-million investment to extend the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers until March 2012. This is above the original $70-million investment the federal government made to launch this initiative in Budget 2006.
"With an estimated one million job openings in B.C. leading up to 2018, older workers who are interested in re-entering the workforce can be a key element in addressing the skills and labour shortage challenges our province is facing," said Cantelon. "These funds will allow service providers to help older workers across B.C. upgrade their skills, benefit from job counselling and gain work experience."
"This funding allows ETHOS and other service providers across B.C. to develop essential programs and projects that will help unemployed older workers find new positions and continue to be key contributors to the provincial economy," said Theresa Mayoh, president of ETHOS Career Management Group, one of the project providers.
The TIOW is one of the deliverables of British Columbia's WorkBC action plan, which sets out ways to address skills shortages for the next five years and respond to longer-term labour market challenges. A key priority of the action plan is to develop the skills of existing workers. The TIOW focuses on workers in communities experiencing an economic transition, such as those in the forest sector who are affected by the mountain pine beetle epidemic and by the restructuring of this sector.
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For more information (media only), please contact:
Rena Kendall-Craden
Communications Director
Ministry of Economic Development
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province's news feeds using RSS, visit the Province's website at www.gov.bc.ca .
Targeted Initiative for Ol der Workers (TIOW) projects are co-ordinated by community based organizations and offer a combination of employability approaches, such as employment assistance services, prior learning assessment, specific skills training based upon labour market demands, work experience (with employers or through community based projects) and assistance to become self-employed.
The projects announced today will help an estimated 900 unemployed older workers, mainly from the forestry industry. This represents over $7.5 million in funding, which is provided under the Canada-British Columbia Agreement on Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, signed in October 2007.
The following is a list of the projects announced today:
Project name: Central Interior Trades and Apprenticeship Centre (CITAC)
Total funding (federal/provincial): $790,789 ($664,263/$126,526)
Targeted number of participants: Up to 150
Location of activities: Kamloops and region, including Barriere, Chase, Salmon Arm, Lillooet, Lytton and Merritt
Project name: Prime Time for Success
Total funding (federal/provincial): $1,064,893 ($894,510/$170,383)
Targeted number of participants: 80
Location of activities: Campbell River, Powell River, and surrounding areas
Project name: Experience Works - Mobile
Total funding (federal/provincial): $702,755 ($590,314/$112,441)
Targeted number of participants: 100
Location of activities: Port Alberni, North Qualicum, Lake Cowichan, Sechelt and surrounding areas
Project name: Prince Rupert Gateway for Mature Workers Project
Total funding (federal/provincial): $536,573 ($450,721/$85,852)
Targeted number of participants: 150
Location of activities: Primarily located in Prince Rupert but will serve individuals in the North Coast region including Prince Rupert, Port Edward, Lax Kw'alaams (Port Simpson), Hartley Bay, Metlakatla and Kitkatla
Project name: The VIEW Program: Value in Experienced Workers
Total funding (federal/provincial): $539,298 ($453,010/$86,288)
Targeted number of participants: 36
Location of activities: The Cariboo region, including 100 Mile House, Williams Lake and Quesnel
Project name: Experience Works in Creston
Total funding (federal/provincial): $397,221 ($333,666/$63,555)
Targeted number of participants: 40
Location of activities: Creston and rural communities in the Central Kootenay regional district
Project name: Working Beyond
Total funding (federal/provincial): $792,444 ($665,653/$126,791)
Targeted number of participants: 75
Location of activities: Abbotsford, Mission, Langley, and Maple Ridge
Project name: Hubodulh'eh
Total funding (federal/provincial): $156,585 ($131,531/$25,054)
Targeted number of participants: 15
Location of activities: Prince George
Project name: Older Workers' Employment Network (OWEN)
Total funding (federal/provincial): $513,652 ($431,468/$82,184)
Targeted number of participants: 40
Location of activities: Sooke, Otter Point, Shirley, Jordan River, Port Renfrew, First Nations communities, Beecher Bay, T'Sou-Ke Nation and Pacheedhat
Project name: East Kootenay Experienced Workers Employment Program
Total funding (federal/provincial): $370,765 ($311,443/$59,322)
Targeted number of participants: 50
Location of activities: Columbia Valley: Edgewater, Brisco, Canal Flats, Invermere, Radium, Fairmont. Cranbrook/Kimberley: Skookumchuk, Wasa, Wardner, Fernie,Sparwood, Elkford and Elko
Project name: Mature Career Opportunities
Total funding (federal/provincial): $516,217 ($433,622/$82,595)
Targeted number of participants: 40
Location of activities: Terrace, Kitimat, Hazeltons, Nass Valley
Project name: Experience Counts
Total funding (federal/provincial): $1,171,196 ($983,805/$187,391)
Targeted number of participants: 120
Location of activities: Prince George
