B.C. OPENS IMMIGRANT SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRE

For Immediate Release

2008EMPR0067-001805

Nov. 25, 2008

Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources

Human Resources and Social Development Canada

B.C. OPENS IMMIGRANT SOCIAL SERVICES CENTRE

FORT ST. JOHN – An immigrant social services agency, the Northern BC Newcomers Integration Services Centre (NISC), will be established in Fort St. John to assist immigrants entering the oil and gas industry, announced Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld today.

“The purpose of NCIS is twofold,” said Neufeld. “It will provide employment support, job matching services and settlement support to immigrants and potential employees, while also providing a valuable service to employers by helping to address the labour needs in B.C.’s thriving oil and gas industry.”

Currently, 80 per cent of immigrants to the province settle in the Lower Mainland. NISC is hoping to encourage immigrants who are already in Canada to settle in northeast B.C. by providing assistance and information on jobs in the oil and gas industry and community and family services. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has been contracted to provide the services to the region.

NISC will have an annual budget of $336,248, with contributions of $136,348 provided by the Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development, $100,000 administered by the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources through BC-Canada Labour Market Agreement (LMA) funding, and an anticipated contribution from the oil and gas industry of approximately $100,000.

“This new agency will go a long way to help northern B.C. companies attract new talent,” said Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. “Through our Labour Market Agreement, we are helping employers find the skilled labour they need and through this new agency, we are delivering on our commitment to help newcomers and their families get access to the information, training and services they need to find jobs in B.C.”

The governments of British Columbia and Canada see immigration as a key source of skilled workers that will help to address B.C.’s labour shortage. Working with partners in training, industry and education, the governments are assisting immigrants to gain the social and labour market skills they need to contribute to B.C. society.

Under the LMA, each year for the next six years, the Government of Canada will provide approximately $66 million to the Province. Through a variety of programs, these funds will increase training for employed individuals who are low-skilled and require essential skills, or who require recognized credentials to reach their full potential in the current marketplace. They will also help increase access to training for unemployed individuals who are not currently Employment Insurance (EI) clients, including but not limited to those who are underrepresented in the labour market.

For more information on the LMA, visit www.WorkBC.ca.

-30-


Media contact:	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)

For more information on government services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.