That is why in Budget 2007 close to $4 million is being invested through my department to expand career and employment services and strengthen connections for people and employers in the labour market. Let me outline the approach.

For our K-12 system this means $500,000 to hire 10 career information officers to work with our teachers, guidance counselors and students to provide them with current and accurate career and labour market information and insight into the many diverse opportunities in this province.

For job seekers this means approximately $1 million to expand career and employment services into rural areas with the establishment of five new Career Information Resource Centres across the province.

For communities this also means over a million dollars in new funding for direct employment and business development projects. Our government is committed to providing our people with the tools they need to directly and successfully participate in today�s labour market.

As a province, we need to reach the point where our people are not only highly skilled but right-skilled and that employment and career programs and services are widely available, relevant and targeted to meet their needs.

That is why government recently launched LMIworks, the most comprehensive job and training Web site ever to be established in this province, so that everyone can now access the same labour market information and make better informed decisions regarding their work and training prospects.

This government recognizes the tremendous opportunities on the horizon as well as those happening now. We will not waiver, we will invest in areas that matter to people and together with our community partners will continue to work hard and ensure a prosperous and self-reliant future for all Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

2007 05 08                                               2:10 p.m.