Human Resources, Labour and Employment
September 5, 2008

Seven New Projects to Help Older Workers in Newfoundland and Labrador

Fabian Manning, Member of Parliament for Avalon, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Newfoundland and Labrador�s Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, are pleased to announce seven new projects to help unemployed older workers integrate into new jobs.

"Canada�s Government is acting on its commitment to create the best-educated, most-skilled and most flexible work force in the world," said Mr. Manning. "We cannot, and must not, overlook the experience of these workers who want to continue to contribute to their communities and to the Canadian economy; rather, we must support them through targeted measures."

The governments of Canada and of Newfoundland and Labrador will jointly contribute over $1.2 million to these seven projects. This investment is made possible through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW), in which both levels of government are joining forces to help approximately 88 unemployed older workers.

"The Provincial Government is committed to helping older workers succeed in today�s changing labour market. We have a role to play in assisting this skilled work force as they make the transition into other sectors of our economy," said Minister Skinner. "The projects announced today, under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, provide these workers with an excellent opportunity to explore their options, gain new skills and secure long-term employment."

The Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement that enabled the implementation of the TIOW was signed in the fall of 2007. Under this agreement, the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador are investing up to $2,586,697 and $492,704 respectively, for a total of $3,079,401, in community-based projects for unemployed older workers in the province (age 55 to 64). As well, the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador will be contributing up to $615,879 in program administration costs, for a total provincial contribution of $1,108,584. Seventy per cent of the total funding is provided by the Federal Government, and 30 per cent by the Provincial Government.

For more information on these projects, see the following backgrounder.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Visit HRSDC�s new website at www.hrsdc.gc.ca.

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Media contacts:

Pema Lhalungpa
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Solberg
819-994-2482
Ronalda Walsh
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 699-7903
ronaldawalsh@gov.nl.ca
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Social
Development Canada
819-994-5559
 

BACKGROUNDER

Projects funded under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers (TIOW) are co-ordinated by community-based organizations. They offer targeted measures to ensure that unemployed older workers can remain active participants in the work force by providing activities such as employment assistance services, prior learning assessment, specific skills training based upon labour market demands, work experience (with employers or through community-based projects) and assistance to become self-employed.

The projects announced today will help an estimated 88 unemployed older workers, mainly from the fishing industry. This represents over $1.2 million in funding, which is provided under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Agreement on Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, signed in 2007.

The following is a list of the projects announced today:

Project name

Sponsor organisation

Area/

Community

Targeted number of participants

Federal Funding

Provincial Funding

Total Funding

Burin Peninsula Older Workers Project College of the North Atlantic, Burin Campus Burin Peninsula

32

$316,830

$60,348

$377,178

Horticultural Awareness Partnership Program Lower Trinity South Regional Development Association Bay de Verde Peninsula

8

$141,567

$26,965

$168,532

Jobs Back Home Employment Skills Initiative Victoria Community Development Corporation Victoria

10

$123,457

$23,516

$146,973

Enhancing Skills for Older Workers Bonavista Area Chamber of Commerce Bonavista Peninsula (Northern Section)

15

$179,579

$34,206

$213,785

Creating Our Own Future Sir William Ford Coaker Heritage Foundation Port Union

7

$116,880

$22,263

$139,143

Mariner Resource Opportunities Network Inc Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Mariner Resource Opportunities Network Inc. Baccalieu Trail

12

$133,468

$25,422

$158,890

Labrador Straits Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Smart Labrador Inc. Labrador Straits

4

$34,540

$6,579

$41,119

2008 09 05                                                         12:30 p.m.


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