NEW WESTMINSTER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, December 19, 2008-Newcomers to Canada, unemployed workers aged 45 or older aiming to re-enter the work force and employers seeking to address skills shortages will benefit from three S.U.C.C.E.S.S. projects announced today by Ed Fast, Member of Parliament for Abbotsford, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
"Canada is built on a promise of opportunity; the chance to work hard, raise a family and make a better life regardless of cultural background or age," said Mr. Fast. "These projects will help 3,700 unemployed workers aged 45 or older and newcomers who are eligible to work in Canada find meaningful employment, as well as assist employers in addressing local skills shortages."
One project, Tomorrow's Workplace, is delivered through the Labour Market Partnerships program. By offering employer outreach and networking opportunities, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. aims to generate an understanding of skills shortages issues among employers and involve them in creating solutions.
The other two projects are delivered through the Employment Assistance Services program. The Employment Resource Centre project will enable S.U.C.C.E.S.S. to help unemployed recent immigrants, who are legally entitled to work in Canada, prepare for and find employment through access to a self-serve resource centre, workshops, and the development of individual work plans. Through the Experience for Hire project, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will provide unemployed workers aged 45 or older with employment counseling on labour market trends, job search techniques and career goals that will allow them to obtain employment or become self-employed.
The Government of Canada works in partnership with communities and stakeholders to provide Canadians with the training, skills and opportunities they need to participate in the work force and contribute to their communities. The total investment through the Employment Assistance Services and Labour Market Partnerships programs is $3.7 million.
These programs are delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about these programs, call1 800 O-Canada, go on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or visit your local Service Canada Centre.
Further information can be found in the attached backgrounder.
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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).
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Service Canada Communications
604-666-2337
Backgrounder
The United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the well being of Canadians and immigrants of Chinese and other origins, and to encourage their full participation in the community in the spirit of multiculturalism. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. provides individuals, families and communities with advocacy and culturally appropriate services with a focus on social, education, health, business and community development.
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.
The Government of Canada uses the Labour Market Partnerships (LMP) program to encourage, support, and facilitate labour force adjustments and human resource planning activities that are in the public interest. The LMP program provides funding to encourage and support employers, employee–employer associations, and communities in developing and implementing strategies for dealing with labour force adjustments and meeting human resource requirements.
The LMP program supports activities related to human resource planning and labour force adjustment. Such activities may include related research, the development of human resource strategies, the promotion of beneficial human resource and adjustment practices (best practices), the coordination of community-based approaches to addressing labour market issues, short-term adjustment services for workers facing lay-off, and the development of economic (employment) development plans and community marketing plans.
Eligible recipients include businesses, federal Crown corporations and comparable provincial/territorial Crown corporations, organizations, individuals, public health and educational institutions, municipal governments, and band/tribal councils.
