NLIS 8
April 20, 2005
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
 

The following statement was issued today by Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

I would like to take this opportunity today to update honourable members on an initiative which we announced during Budget 2005, the Community Enhancement Program. This program is extremely valuable to those people in rural Newfoundland and Labrador who are unemployed or under-employed.

This $4.25 million program will highlight employment projects which have a community infrastructure or economic development focus. We will fund projects for municipal, environmental and recreation improvements. We will also fund projects related to forestry, agriculture and fisheries infrastructure improvements. These projects will be labour intensive. Although the employment may be relatively short-term and small scale, the projects will have long-term benefits to municipalities.

We hope to notify municipalities, organizations and other groups by the end of this month or beginning of May that we are ready to roll out this program. We will be asking these proponents to submit proposals for projects resulting in sustainable benefits to our communities. It is our hope that we will have individuals in rural Newfoundland and Labrador working on various projects for the summer and fall.

This program is similar in scope to the Job Creation Program however there are some notable differences. Because the deadline to submit proposals is August 31, 2005, municipalities and organizations have much more flexibility in preparing their proposals. Once an application is successful, the proponents can choose when they want to start on the project as long as it is completed by March 1, 2006. However, we would encourage them to get their proposals in early so they can start projects as soon as possible.

Another improvement, is that individuals who are receiving survivor benefits as their sole source of income can apply for projects. Under the Job Creation Program, only those receiving Employment Insurance could apply but we recognize the hardship individuals go through when they lose a spouse. We have heard time and time again about the frustration people who were in receipt of survivor benefits have felt when they learned they could not get work through the Job Creation Program. We felt it was unfair to exclude these individuals from the Community Enhancement Program so we have listened to what they had to say.

This is the first year for this improved program so it is still evolving. I think we have made good first steps which will offer meaningful work to unemployed and under-employed individuals. We want people to be proud of the work they are doing in their communities and benefit from their work for years to come.
 
2005 04 20                                   2:45 p.m.


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