NLIS 1
December 17, 2004
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)

 


Minister provides update on Job Creation Program

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, is pleased to provide an update today on the Job Creation Program. This program is extremely valuable to those people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador who are unemployed or underemployed.

 This year�s budget for the program is $4.25 million. The Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs has allocated approximately $4.12 million to date for such projects as brush cutting, renovations and repairs to municipal infrastructure and tourism and recreational initiatives. 

"Although we recognize that this program will not provide a long-term solution for struggling families, it does help many people make ends meet especially before the holiday season," said Minister Byrne. "This year alone, we estimate that there will be 1,800 jobs created through this program. Another way of evaluating the benefits of the program is through the number of work weeks the program will create which we estimate to be at 9,000. These estimates are comparable to last year�s program." 

Much of the work which municipalities, organizations or others have identified has already started. The first projects were approved at the end of October. Since all projects have to be wrapped up by March 31, 2005, having an early announcement date is essential to getting work done in a timely manner for all people who benefit from this work whether it is the workers, municipalities or all residents. 

"Government remains committed to working on changing the scope of the Job Creation Program so that it benefits Newfoundlanders and Labradorians in the long term," said Minister Byrne. "This updated version called the Community Enhancement Program aims to have people work on more permanent and sustainable projects which will benefit their communities in the long term. We are still moving ahead with the development of the program for further consideration in the budget process." 

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-1983 or (709) 682-6593 

2004 12 17                      10:25 a.m.


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