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NEWS RELEASE |
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For Immediate Release |
Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour
Market Development |
MISSION – The governments of Canada and British Columbia are working in partnership to help older workers remain active in the workforce by jointly investing over $30 million and extending the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers until March 2012. This support will help up to 3,000 unemployed older workers in British Columbia acquire new skills and find jobs.
The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians and Member of Parliament for Chilliwack–Fraser Canyon, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, along with the Honourable Moira Stilwell, Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development for British Columbia, announced today 19 new agreements funded through this partnership. These agreements will help up to 471 unemployed older workers across the province.
“When Canadians, including
older workers, lose their jobs, we want to help them get back into the
workforce as soon as possible,” said Minister Strahl. “Every region has
different needs, and that is why we are working closely with British Columbia
to ensure that older workers receive the support, training and skills
development opportunities they need to find jobs and adapt to economic
changes.”
“The older workers program is another example of how the provincial and federal governments are working together to provide new options for unemployed older individuals, helping them to find and maintain meaningful employment,” added Minister Stilwell. “With programs like this, we’re helping more British Columbians and more communities with the resources they need to be successful.”
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is a federal-provincial/territorial cost-shared initiative designed to help unemployed older workers living in communities affected by high unemployment and/or downsizing. Through the Initiative, these individuals can get the skills they need to find and keep new jobs, or start their own business.
Under Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government is providing an additional $60 million nationally over three years for the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers. This funding builds on previous investments in Budget 2006, which committed $70 million to implement the Initiative, and in Budget 2008, which invested an additional $90 million to extend this initiative to March 31, 2012. This additional investment will allow up to 6,000 more older workers to benefit from the specialized support they need to transition to new jobs.
The original agreement between the two governments was signed in 2007. Through this agreement, the Government of British Columbia was able to implement 22 projects. These projects have helped approximately 1,000 unemployed older workers get training, find new jobs or become self-employed.
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers provides programming until
To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit the following Web site: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in
alternative formats upon request.
For further
information (media only):
|
Michelle Bakos Press Secretary Office of Minister Finley 819 994-2482 |
Craig MacBride Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 356-7882 250 213-1649
(cell) |
|
Human Resources and Skills Development 819 994-5559 |
|
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.
BACKGROUNDER
About the program
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is a federal-provincial/territorial cost-shared initiative that provides employment assistance services and activities, such as skills upgrading and work experience, to improve the employability of unemployed older workers aged 55 to 64 living in vulnerable communities. To date, over 4,000 workers across Canada have been helped through the Initiative.
About the new projects
A total of 19 new projects across the province have been approved to run from August 2009 to March 2010. These projects represent a joint investment of $4,516,708 of the committed $30 million, and will help up to 471 unemployed older workers across the province with their return to employment.
|
Project |
Area |
Total funding
($) |
Targeted number
of participants |
|
Prime Time Workers |
Sooke and surrounding
areas |
99,997 |
10 |
|
Employment Link Program |
Nakusp and area |
136,964 |
16 |
|
Opportunities for Mature
Workers |
Castlegar and surrounding
communities |
88,738 |
10 |
|
Central Interior Trades and Apprenticeship Centre (CITAC) Older Worker
Project |
Kamloops
and region |
244,199 |
30 |
|
Enhancing Workplace Literacy Skills |
Fort St. James and area; Bulkley–Nechako Region and Vanderhoof–Bulkley–Nechako Regional District |
234,626 |
24 |
|
Boundary Skills Acquisition Training Program |
Midway
and surrounding communities; Boundary Regions |
170,692 |
20 |
|
Vintage Advantage |
Comox-Strathcona
|
191,471 |
20 |
|
Experience Works - Mobile |
Port
Alberni, Lake
Cowichan, Sechelt |
305,434 |
49 |
|
North Coast Mature Workers Project |
Prince Rupert |
299,180 |
30 |
|
Value in Experienced Older Workers |
Cariboo Region |
435,467 |
36 |
|
Experience Works in
Creston |
Creston and area |
223,851 |
20 |
|
Opportunities North Prince George Smithers and area |
Prince George, Smithers
and area |
265,422 |
22 |
|
Working Beyond and Self Employment - Pathway to AD-Venture |
Mission, Chilliwack and
Hope and surrounding communities |
674,000 |
62 |
|
Experience Works! |
Revelstoke
and area |
97,664 |
8 |
|
The Prime Time for Success Program |
Campbell River area |
321,847 |
30 |
|
New Options |
Powell River |
156,219 |
16 |
|
East Kootenay Experienced Workers Employment Program |
Cranbrook, Canal Flats |
148,887 |
20 |
|
Mature Career Opportunities (Terrace and District Community Services
Society) |
Terrace
and area or those communities located in the Skeena Corridor |
224,634 |
24 |
|
Encore Employment Project (T.I.I. Training Innovations Inc.) |
Squamish
and area |
197,416 |
24 |
For further information (media only):
|
Michelle Bakos Press Secretary Office of Minister Finley 819 994-2482 |
Craig MacBride Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development 250 356-7882 250 213-1649
(cell) |
|
Human Resources and Skills Development 819 994-5559 |
|
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.
