Unemployed workers facing barriers to
employment in Fortune will benefit from support by the
governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador for
a local employment project. 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 Fortune
area develop the skills and experience they need to
become employed."
The Fortune Community and Youth Centre
will receive $312,207 under the Government of Canada�s
Employment Assistance Services program. This funding
will help the Centre deliver employment-related services
to 2,000 unemployed persons, helping them prepare for,
obtain and maintain employment.
"Newfoundland and Labrador is very
pleased to join our federal partners in support of the
Fortune Community and Youth Centre under the
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market
Development Agreement," said Minister Sullivan. "These
types of employment and training benefits ensure that
individuals have access to the supports they need to
succeed in our labour market, while helping employers
access the skilled workforce they need to compete. The
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador looks forward to
continuing to support individuals and organizations as
we assume responsibility for delivering Labour Market
Development Agreement employment benefits and measures
in November."
The Employment Assistance Services
program is one of a broad range of Employment Insurance
training programs that help unemployed Canadians quickly
find work and serve to develop a skilled labour force
that meets current and emerging needs of employers.
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 this commitment in January when
it introduced 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 Employment Assistance Services
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.
BACKGROUNDER
Fortune Community and
Youth Centre
Between July 5, 2009, and July 2,
2010, the Fortune Community and Youth Centre will
deliver employment-related services to 2,000 unemployed
persons, helping them prepare for, obtain and maintain
employment. The centre will conduct client assessments
for unemployed individuals who face barriers to
employment, complete employment counselling
interventions to help them identify and work to resolve
their barriers to employment, and assist them in
developing a Return to Work Action Plan. It will also
conduct general information sessions to provide
information on employment programs and services that can
assist clients with their return to the labour market.
The Employment Assistance Services
program provides funding to organizations that offer
employment services to help clients re-enter the labour
market. Funding for the program was provided in the
March 2007 federal budget.
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.
Employment Assistance Services include
providing clients with information about the labour
market, helping prepare r�sum�s, career-planning
services, employment counselling, diagnostic assessment,
help with job search skills, job-finding clubs and job
placement services.
Eligible recipients of the program�s
funding are businesses, including federal and
provincial/territorial Crown corporations,
organizations, 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.
This project has been reviewed to
ensure compliance with Service Canada�s administration
of its grants and contributions programs and is subject
to review under the Financial Administration Act.
2009 08 07 4:00 p.m.