MONTREAL LAKE, SASKATCHEWAN, DECEMBER 3, 2010 - A joint initiative of the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan is helping unemployed older workers learn new skills to assist them in finding and keeping new jobs.
Mr. Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, announced over $138,000 in joint funding for the "A New Beginning - Return to the Work Place for Our Over Fifty Population" project through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers.
"When Canadians lose their jobs, we want to help them get back into the workforce as soon as possible," said Mr. Clarke. "The Government of Canada, in partnership with the Province of Saskatchewan, is ensuring that older workers get the support, training and skills development opportunities they need to find jobs and adapt to the changing economy."
"Saskatchewan's economy continues to create numerous employment opportunities for our citizens," said the Honourable Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration for Saskatchewan. "We are pleased to provide more than $22,000 to this program, which will help a vital segment of our population re-enter the workforce and seize those opportunities."
The federal government, through Canada's Economic Action Plan, has provided an additional $60 million for the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers. This has helped support 12 projects across Saskatchewan, delivering training to more than 300 older workers. To learn more about the Action Plan, please visit the following website: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
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
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is a federal-provincial/territorial cost-shared initiative that provides employment assistance services and employability improvement activities, such as skills upgrading and work experience, to assist unemployed older workers aged 55 to 64 living in a city or town with a population of 250,000 or less and experiencing ongoing high unemployment, and/or significant downsizing or closures.
The Government of Canada launched the Initiative in 2006 with a $70-million commitment, and it invested another $90 million in 2008 to extend the Initiative to March 31, 2012. Canada's Economic Action Plan provided an additional $60 million nationally for this initiative over three years.
To date, over 13,600 unemployed older workers across Canada have been helped through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers.
