Antigonish, Nova Scotia, February 26, 2012—Unemployed older workers in Nova Scotia are receiving help to develop their skills and re-enter the workforce thanks to the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program (TIOW). The announcement was made today by the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“Our government’s top priority is job creation and economic growth,” said Minister MacKay. “Through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, we are helping unemployed older workers inNova Scotia develop new skills so they can make the transition to new jobs.”
Offered in partnership with the province, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia are providing over $2.2 million to help 246 unemployed older workers through 14 separate TIOW projects. Participants are developing their employability skills and taking advantage of work-experience opportunities to help them successfully return to the labour market.
“Through the jobsHere plan and our Workforce Strategy, we are helping more people—including job seekers aged 55 years and up—keep pace with the changing nature of work, ” said the Honourable Marilyn More, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education for Nova Scotia.
Minister MacKay made today’s announcement at the Antigonish Career Resource Centre. The Centre is receiving support for a project that is helping 12 unemployed older workers increase their chances of obtaining long-lasting and sustainable jobs.
Project participants receive training in both computer skills and essential skills to help them meet the demands of today’s workplace. They also receive help updating their workplace certifications and take part in work placements to prepare them for self-employment or working with an employer.
“The announced funding provides an opportunity for our clients to remain in the workplace. Mature workers deserve the opportunity because of their experience, loyalty, dedication and strong work ethic,” said Danielle Fraser, Career Resource Advisor for the Antigonish Career Resource Centre. “The funding improves access to training and skills development while providing the job-search tools necessary to succeed in today’s labour market.”
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 this commitment in the Next Phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan with an additional investment of $50 million. To date, the TIOW has helped over 16,400 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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For further information (media only):
Alyson Queen
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Office of Minister Finley
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Skills Development Canada
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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. The TIOW assists unemployed older workers aged 55 to 64 years who live 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 Budget 2008 to extend the Initiative fromApril 1, 2009 toMarch 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, the Government of Canada announced in Budget 2011 that it is extending the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, providing $50 million over the next two years, until March 31, 2014.
