MINTO, NEW BRUNSWICK, JULY 11, 2011—Unemployed older workers in the Grand Lake area in Minto and Chipman will benefit from a project funded jointly by the governments of Canada and New Brunswick. The project will help them learn new skills and assist them in finding and keeping new jobs.
Minister Keith Ashfield, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Minister Martine Coulombe, Minister for Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour for New Brunswick, announced that the two levels of government are providing over $140,000 to support the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers – Minto and Chipman project.
“Jobs and growth remain a top priority for the Government of Canada. By funding this project, we are taking action to help unemployed older workers get back into the workforce as soon as possible,” said Minister Ashfield. “In partnership with the Province of New Brunswick, our government is ensuring that unemployed older workers in small communities get the support, training and skills development opportunities they need to find jobs and adapt to the changing economy.”
“Our government is pleased to partner with the federal government to support a project that recognizes the valuable experience and skills that older workers have to offer,” said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Martine Coulombe. “We want to ensure that older workers receive the necessary training and skills development they need to transition back into the workforce as soon as possible.”
As part of the project, 12 unemployed older workers aged 55 to 64 will have the opportunity to learn new skills and also participate in a work experience component that will help them put into practice the skills they have acquired.
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. For more information, please visit the following website: www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/employment/employment_measures/older_workers
- 30 -
This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Ann Matejicka
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Lori-Jean Wallace, Director Communications
New Brunswick Department of Post-Secondary
Education, Training and Labour
506-453-2039
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) 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 high unemployment, and/or significant downsizing or closures.
The Government of Canada launched the TIOW 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 the TIOW over three years.
To further help unemployed older workers, in Budget 2011, the Government of Canada announced that it is extending the TIOW by $50 million over two years, until March 31, 2014.
To date, the TIOW has targeted over 15,500 unemployed older workers in Canada.
