CARBONEAR, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR, September 5, 2008 - Mr. Fabian Manning, Member of Parliament for Avalon, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Shawn Skin nner, Newfoundland and Labrador's Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, are pleased to announce seven new projects to help unemployed older workers integrate into new jobs.
"Canada's Government is acting on its commitment to crea te the best-educated, most skilled and most flexible work force in the world," said Mr. Manning. "We cannot, and must not, overlook the experience of these workers who want to continue to contribute to their communities and to the Canadian economy; rather , we must support them through targeted measures."
The governments of Canada and of Newfoundland and Labrador will jointly contribute over $1.2 million to these seven projects. This investment is made possible through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW), in which both levels of government are joining forces to help approximately 88 unemployed older workers.
"The provincial government is committed to helping older workers succeed in today's changing labour market. We have a role to play in assisting this skilled work force as they make the transition into other sectors of our economy," said Minister Skinner. "The projects announced today, under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, provide these workers with an excell ent opportunity to explore their options, gain new skills and secure long-term employment."
The Canada Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement that enabled the implementation of the TIOW was signed in the fall of 2007. Under this agreement, the gov ernments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are investing up to $2,586,697 and $492,704 respectively, for a total of $3,079,401, in community-based projects for unemployed older workers in the province (age 55 to 64). As well, the Government of Newfo undland and Labrador will be contributing up to $615,879 in program administration costs, for a total provincial contribution of $1,108,584. Seventy per cent of the total funding is provided by the federal government, and thirty per cent by the provincial government.
For more information on these projects, see the attached backgrounder.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
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For further information (media only):
Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Solberg
819 994 2482
Ronalda Wa lsh
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources,Labour and Employment
709-729-0753
709-699-7903 (cell.)
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social Development Canada
819 994 5559
Projects funded under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) are coordinated by community-based organizations. They offer targeted measures to ensure that unemployed older workers c an remain active participants in the work force by providing activities such as employment assistance services, prior learning assessment, specific skills training based upon labour market demands, work experience (with employers or through community-base d projects) and assistance to become self-employed.
The projects announced today will help an estimated 88 unemployed older workers, mainly from the fishing industry. This represents over $1.2 million in funding, which is provided under the Cana da-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement on Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, signed in 2007.
The following is a list of the projects announced today:
