Saint-Georges, Quebec, July 7, 2009—The Honourable Maxime Bernier, Member of Parliament for Beauce, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Mr. Robert Dutil, Minister of Revenue for Quebec and Member of the National Assembly for Beauce-Sud, on behalf of Mr. Sam Hamad, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity for Quebec, announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec are jointly investing approximately $1,557,000 in the RCMs of Beauce‑Sartigan and Robert‑Cliche, to help older workers aged 55 to 64 who have been affected by layoffs re-enter the workforce. This investment will assist 120 older workers in returning to the workforce over the next two years.
“When Canadians, including older workers, lose their jobs, we want to help them re‑enter the workforce as quickly as possible. Every region has specific needs, and it is for this reason that we are working closely with our partners in Quebec to ensure that older workers are able to receive the support, training and skills development opportunities that they require to find jobs and adapt to economic changes,” said Mr. Bernier.
“The last few months have been difficult for a significant number of experienced workers in manufacturing sectors such as the textile and forestry industries. There have been many layoffs in the region that have affected a number of older workers. We must provide support to these people and redirect these skilled workers into more promising sectors. That is the goal of the project announced today under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers,” said Minister Dutil.
The Club de recherche d’emploi Beauce-Etchemin, sponsor of this project called Action 55, will offer personalized, adapted support to these older workers by assessing their skills to determine how transferable they are to another sector. The sponsor’s team will teach job search strategies to the workers and provide them with assisted placement or coaching with a view to helping them find new employment.
The Canada‑Quebec agreement regarding the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers was renewed and signed in spring 2009. The project announced today, which falls under this agreement, will receive $1,307,902 in funding from the Government of Canada and $249,124 from the Government of Quebec.
Mr. Bernier also noted that Canada’s Economic Action Plan contains additional funding of $60 million that will be invested over three years in the TIOW by the Government of Canada.
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Sources:
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Matthieu St-Pierre
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Revenue and Member of the National Assembly for Beauce-Sud
418‑652-6835
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Information:
Éric Dubois
Information Officer – Communications
Emploi-Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches
418‑838-2605, extension 262
