DIGBY, NOVA SCOTIA, April 14, 2009—Unemployed workers facing barriers to employment on Nova Scotia’s South Shore will benefit from the Government of Canada’s commitment to a local employment project. Mr. Greg Kerr, Member of Parliament for West Nova, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“Canada’s economy can only be as strong as its workers and families, so we are committed to strengthening tomorrow’s workforce by investing in our people today,” said Mr. Kerr. “In supporting this project, the Government of Canada is helping unemployed Nova Scotians develop the skills, knowledge and experience they need to move forward in their lives.”
The Digby Area Learning Association will receive $938,244 under the Government of Canada’s Employment Assistance Services program for its Career Resource Centre and Employment Counselling project. This project will help 1,050 unemployed individuals develop the skills, knowledge and experience they need to find and maintain employment.
"Partnerships extend the capacities of organizations like ours. This partnership with Service Canada has allowed us to help a significant number of people develop their essential skills and education. This makes them better equipped to develop their career in a direction that allows them to be happy and productive, while improving the quality of the local labour pool. It is a winning situation for all concerned,” said Mr. Clyde Baltzer, Executive Director, Digby Area Learning Association. “It is a great investment in the community by the Government of Canada.”
The federal government is working with the provinces and territories, communities and other stakeholders to provide Canadians with the training, skills and opportunities they need to participate in the workforce and contribute to their communities.
The Employment Assistance Services program is part of a broad range of Employment Insurance training programs that help unemployed Canadians quickly find work, and are designed to develop a skilled labour force that meets the current and emerging needs of employers.
It is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The Government underscored this commitment in January when it introduced Canada’s Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development.
Currently, the Employment Assistance Services program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, call 1-800-O-Canada, go on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca or visit your local Service Canada Centre.
Under the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Development Agreement, effective July 1, 2009, the Province will assume responsibility for the design and delivery of Employment Insurance-funded Employment Benefits and Support Measures. The Government of Canada will provide funding directly to the Province to deliver these programs.
Further information can be found in the attached backgrounder.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
National Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Established in 1991, the Digby Area Learning Association promotes and facilitates lifelong learning opportunities that encourage and support healthy, sustainable communities. Between March 8, 2009, and February 26, 2011, the Association’s Career Resource Centre and Employment Counselling project will provide 950 unemployed individuals with employment assistance services in the Digby and Western Annapolis Counties to help them prepare for, obtain and maintain employment. There will be an additional 100 carry-over cases from the previous project.
The Employment Assistance Services program provides funding to organizations that offer employment services to help clients re-enter the labour market. Funding for the program was provided in the March 2007 federal budget.
All unemployed Canadians have access to a range of services under the Employment Assistance Services program. However, some services are available only to clients who are eligible to receive Employment Insurance benefits, or who have recently been receiving them.
Employment Assistance Services include providing clients with information about the labour market, helping to prepare résumés, career-planning services, employment counselling, diagnostic assessment, help with job search skills, job-finding clubs, and job placement services.
Eligible recipients of the program’s funding are businesses, including federal 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.
This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with Service Canada’s administration of its grants and contributions programs, and is subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
