November 4, 1996
(Executive Council)

CanWorkNet Internet site launched in Newfoundland and Labrador

Premier Brian Tobin officially launched the CanWorkNet partnership and Internet web site today in a national video conference involving interactive video hook-ups in Newfoundland and Labrador, New Brunswick, Ontario, Alberta and British Colombia. The CanWorkNet Partnership initiative includes an Internet site which will provide global access to people seeking career and life skills information in Canada.

"Newfoundland and Labrador is leading the way when it comes to information technology," said Premier Tobin. "In 1995 Newfoundland and Labrador became the first province with full Internet access in all schools in the province. It is very fitting that Newfoundland and Labrador should also be a leader in this CanWorkNet national initiative which will strategically facilitate access to career development and training information for people in even the most remote areas of the province."

The Newfoundland and Labrador Work Net (NLWorkNet) site will be linked up with the national CanWorkNet to provide Newfoundlanders and Labradorians with access to what is happening and available in career information in other parts of the country as well. NLWorkNet includes many databases including the Provincial Post Secondary Course Offerings list, the Newfoundland and Labrador Transfer Guide, the Graduate Follow up Survey and a variety of labour market products. The product is unique in that it can focus specifically on a particular region's needs while being flexible and transferable not only to other regions, but nationally as well.

"With a primary mandate of this government to put Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to work in this province," said Premier Tobin, "the CanWorkNet partnership initiative pools all career and life skills information tools available, both provincially and nationally, to maximize the resources available to people seeking employment or a career change."

Partners in the CanWorkNet and NLWorkNet initiatives include the provincial departments of Development and Rural Renewal as well as Education, the Canada-Newfoundland Cooperation Agreement on Human Resource Development, Human Resources Development Canada and Newtel Information Solutions. Access to CanWorkNet will be promoted through a number of access points including Federal/Provincial Career Information Resource Centres, Provincial Public Libraries, Schools and Human Resource Centres and through personal home use.

The CanWorkNet Internet site is located at //www.canworknet.ca

Contact: Cathy Dornan, Premier's Office, (709) 729-3564 or Susan Laite, Development and Rural Renewal, (709) 729-4570.