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Thank you and good morning everyone.
I’m delighted to be here today at the Windsor Unemployed Help Centre.
In particular, I’m pleased to join representatives from the City of Windsor and the Windsor Unemployed Help Centre, as well as project participants.
It’s great to be where the action is—where the pedal hits the metal, so to speak. And where your federal government is working collaboratively with the Government of Ontario to make a difference for older workers.
The economic downturn has been difficult for everyone, and I know that has particularly been the case for families in communities like Windsor.
Often, those most affected are older workers.
Being let go after you’ve worked in the same field for many years can be especially tough for you and your family.
Our government’s top priority is job creation and the economy. That’s why helping unemployed older workers in areas hit hard by the recession, such as Windsor, has been a key element in our recovery.
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, or TIOW as we call it, has proven to be very effective at providing a wide-range of job-related supports for unemployed older workers. It’s also helped them stay in the workforce.
TIOW is designed for unemployed people aged 55 to 64, who live in communities with a high rate of unemployment.
It gives these older workers the support and re-training they need to find new jobs and adapt to the changing economy.
I am happy to announce that together, the governments of Canada and Ontario are contributing over $1.7 million to two TIOW projects in this region.
I am pleased that through the TIOW we are helping people in Windsor make the transition to new jobs. These unemployed older workers will have an opportunity to improve their skills and re-enter the workforce as soon as possible.
In fact, with these projects, TIOW will have helped more than 179 people in Windsor make the transition to new jobs.
TIOW is an important part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create an educated, skilled and flexible workforce. Across Canada it has made a difference in the lives of more than 16,000 unemployed older workers.
The initiative has been very successful, and that is why in the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, we extended the TIOW with an additional investment of $50 million over two years.
This will go a long way in helping unemployed older workers find meaningful employment, and improve the quality of life for their families and themselves.
It also clearly demonstrates the government’s commitment to building more opportunity and prosperity in Windsor and in other communities across Canada.
Thank you.
