La Ronge, Saskatchewan, December 22, 2011—Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethé–Missinippi–Churchill River, Saskatchewan, and the Honourable Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, Saskatchewan, today congratulated 15 older workers on their graduation from a project aimed at helping them get back into the workforce. The project was funded jointly by the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan.
“Our government’s top priority is jobs and the economy,” said Mr. Clarke. “Today, 15 older workers graduated with new skills that will help them find jobs.”
“As Saskatchewan’s economy grows, the provincial government is committed to ensuring more Saskatchewan residents with valuable life experience participate in the many opportunities our labour market has to offer,” said Minister Norris. “With the skills these graduates developed, they come well-prepared to re-enter the workforce and experience the Saskatchewan Advantage first-hand.”
Under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, the two governments provided $137,000 for Put Your Wisdom to Work—Re-entering the Workforce. Participants were taught new skills, such as computer skills, résumé writing, and networking and interview skills. Another component of the project was job shadowing with an employer.
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is part of the Government of Canada’s broader strategy to create an educated, skilled and flexible workforce. The Government highlighted its commitment to this strategy in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To date, this program has helped more than 16 000 unemployed older workers retrain for new careers.
A key element of the Plan includes increasing and improving opportunities available to Canadian workers through skills development.
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For more information, contact:
Alyson Queen
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Marieka Andrew
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
306-798-3170
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 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 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 further help unemployed older workers, in Budget 2011, the Government of Canada announced it is extending the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, providing $50 million over the next two years untilMarch 31, 2014.
To date, TIOW has targeted over 16 000 unemployed older workers in Canada.
