Human Resources, Labour and Employment
August 6, 2009
Governments of Canada and Newfoundland
and Labrador Help People Start Their Own Business in
Baie Verte
A local employment project will help
unemployed workers start their own business. The
announcement was made today by the Honourable Peter
MacKay, Minister of National Defence and Minister for
the Atlantic Gateway, on behalf of the Honourable Diane
Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills
Development, along with the Honourable Susan Sullivan,
Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment for
Newfoundland and Labrador.
"We are pleased to be working with our
provincial partners to strengthen Canada's economy by
investing in our workforce," said Minister MacKay. "This
project will help unemployed residents of the Baie Verte
and Green Bay areas to develop the skills and experience
they need to create jobs for themselves by becoming
self-employed."
The Emerald Community Business
Development Corporation will receive $123,468 under the
Government of Canada's Self-Employment program for its
Self-Employment Benefits project, which will provide
self-employment assistance and entrepreneurial advice to
100 Employment Insurance-eligible participants.
"Newfoundland and Labrador is very
pleased to support this initiative with our federal
partners under the Canada/Newfoundland and Labrador
Labour Market Development Agreement," said Minister
Sullivan. "These types of employment and training
benefits, including self-employment, are critical to
ensuring individuals have access to the supports they
need to succeed in our labour market. The Provincial
Government looks forward to continuing to support
individuals and organizations such as the Emerald
Business Development Association as we assume
responsibility for delivering Labour Market Development
Agreement employment benefits and measures later this
fall."
The Self-Employment program is one of
a broad range of Employment Insurance training programs
that provide financial assistance to help unemployed
Canadians find jobs and employers find workers.
It is part of the Government of
Canada's strategy to create the best educated, most
skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The
government underscored its commitment to this strategy
in Canada's Economic Action Plan. A key component of the
plan is to create more and better opportunities for
Canadian workers through skills development.
The Self-Employment program is
delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop
personalized services for Government of Canada programs,
services and benefits. For more information about this
program, call 1 800 O-Canada, go on the Internet at
servicecanada.gc.ca or visit your local Service Canada
Centre.
Under the Canada-Newfoundland and
Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement, effective
November 2009, the Province will assume responsibility
for the design and delivery of Employment
Insurance-funded Employment Benefits and Support
Measures. The Government of Canada will provide funding
directly to the Province to deliver these programs.
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BACKGROUNDER
Emerald Business
Development Corporation
Between July 26, 2009, and July 23,
2011, the Emerald Community Business Development
Corporation will offer entrepreneurial advice and
assistance to help 100 Employment Insurance-eligible
participants throughout the Baie Verte area create their
own business and become self-employed.
The Self-Employment program provides
funding to organizations that offer unemployed
individuals the opportunity to start their own business
and re-enter the labour market.
All unemployed Canadians have access
to a range of services under the program. However, some
services are available only to clients who are eligible
to receive Employment Insurance benefits, or who have
recently been receiving them.
The Self-Employment program's services
include providing clients with entrepreneurial
assistance in the development and implementation of
business plans and providing information about the
labour market.
Eligible recipients of the program's
funding are businesses, including federal and
provincial/territorial Crown corporations,
organizations, individuals, public health and
educational institutions, municipal governments, and
band/tribal councils, as well as some
provincial/territorial government departments and
agencies. These entities act as employers or service
coordinators under the program.
2009 08 06
3:45 p.m.