Lethbridge, Alberta, August 26, 2011—Unemployed older workers in Lethbridge will get help to develop their skills and re-enter the workforce thanks to a project jointly funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of Alberta.
Mr. Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for Lethbridge, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Greg Weadick, Minister of Advanced Education and Technology, on behalf of the Honourable Thomas Lukaszuk, Minister of Alberta Employment and Immigration, today announced joint funding of $350,000 for the project under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers.
“Jobs and growth remain a top priority for the Government of Canada,” said Mr. Hillyer. “The Government of Canada, in partnership with the Province of Alberta, is ensuring that unemployed older workers in communities like Lethbridge get the support, training and skills development opportunities they need to find jobs and adapt to the changing economy.”
“This training will help unemployed older workers get new skills and jobs,” said Minister Lukaszuk. “Alberta’s strong economy means that people in every segment of our labour force must have the opportunity to be fully engaged—including mature workers.”
As part of the Opening Doors to Employment: Job Search for Mature Workers project, 70 unemployed older workers aged 55 to 64 years will have the opportunity to learn new skills and gain work experience so they can 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 www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/employment/employment_measures/older_workers.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Alyson Queen Tracey Kipta
Press Secretary Communications Manager, South Region
Office of Minister Finley Alberta Employment and Immigration
819-994-2482 403-529-3702
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. The program assists unemployed older workers aged 55 to 64 years living in a city or town with a population of 250,000 or less that is experiencing high unemployment 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, the Government of Canada announced in Budget 2011 that it is providing an additional $50 million and extending the TIOW for an additional two years to March 31, 2014.
To date, the TIOW has targeted over 15,700 unemployed older workers in Canada.
