Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, December 16, 2011—A job training program sponsored by the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan has given 10 unemployed older workers, aged 55 to 64 years, new skills that will help them make the transition to new careers.
Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament for Prince Albert, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Rob Norris, Saskatchewan Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration, today congratulated the participants upon completing the Second Start project. The two governments invested $100,530 in the project managed by the Academy of Learning under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program.
“Canada’s economy is our government’s top priority, and this is why we are taking action to support Canadian jobs and families,” said Mr. Hoback. “We are proud to have partnered with the Government of Saskatchewan on this project and we commend the participants for their efforts and wish them every success.”
“Saskatchewan’s economy is growing and the provincial government wants to ensure more residents, particularly those with valuable experience, participate in our labour market,” said Minister Norris. “With a record population that continues to grow, older workers are able to contribute to our labour market and experience the Saskatchewan Advantage first-hand.”
Through this project, the unemployed older workers from the Prince Albert and North Central Economic Region have learned new skills, such as computer skills, basic bookkeeping and first aid training. The participants also received help finding new jobs and career opportunities.
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.
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Alyson Queen
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Marieka Andrew
Ministry of Advanced Education, Employmentand Immigration
306-798-3170
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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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 until March 31, 2014.
To date, TIOW has targeted over 16,000 unemployed older workers in Canada.
