Human Resources, Labour and Employment
August 10, 2009Career Work
Centre Opened in Happy Valley-Goose Bay
The Provincial Government�s Career Work Centre network
has been extended to Labrador with today�s grand opening of a new
facility in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. The Honourable Susan Sullivan,
Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, opened the new
office at 163 Hamilton River Road this morning, bringing the
cross-province network one step closer to completion.
"We are establishing Career Work Centres throughout
the province to provide employers and job seekers with labour market
services that meet their specific needs," said Minister Sullivan. "The
employment conditions and labour demographics in each region of the
province vary considerably. By establishing regional offices that
satisfy the distinct requirements of certain areas, the Provincial
Government becomes better positioned to help all displaced workers, job
seekers, and employers pursue their employment goals."
Each centre is designed to be a comfortable and
welcoming community-based resource that serves the employment needs of
area residents by providing information, technological resources, and
one-on-one support. Employers and community leaders can use their local
centre to avail of valuable statistics and timely information about
employment trends. They can also take advantage of the centre�s meeting
room to conduct interviews for vacant positions or hold training
sessions. Job seekers can use their local centre to find out where
employment opportunities exist and then get one-on-one help with
preparing for these opportunities. A telephone, fax, photocopier, and
computer are available at no cost to any area residents searching for
employment.
"I am very pleased to see the career work centre
network extended to Happy Valley-Goose Bay," said the Honourable John
Hickey, MHA for Lake Melville District. "The area is unique, consisting
of nearly 9,000 people with diverse backgrounds, all eager to contribute
to a fast growing local economy that includes tourism, natural resource
development, and cultural production. I believe the new Career Work
Centre will provide employment support that will address the specific
needs of the area, and I am eager to see the positive impacts it will
have in the future."
To date, the Provincial Government has committed $2.1
million toward expanding the Career Work Centres network across the
province. By the end of 2009, the Career Work Centre network will
comprise 14 locations providing comprehensive employment support
throughout Newfoundland and Labrador.
To find out more about Career Work Centres, visit the
Provincial Government�s LMIWorks website, at www.lmiworks.nl.ca/CareerWorkCentres/.
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Media contacts:
Jennifer Collingwood
Director of
Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment
709-729-0753, 690-2498
jennifercollingwood@gov.nl.ca |
Dayna Winters
Executive Assistant to the
Honourable John Hickey, MHA,
Lake Melville District
709-896-2364
daynawinters@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Current Employment Support Initiatives
A list of some of the key employment support
initiatives undertaken by the Department of Human Resources, Labour and
Employment follows:
Regional
Offices There is a province-wide
network of support services provided by the Department of Human
Resources, Labour and Employment�s (HRLE�s) 28 regional offices,
which include the 10 Career Work Centres currently in operation.
The department also co-manages over 70 Employment Assistance
Services offices with the Federal Government. These sites are
complemented by 15 Service Canada Centres, 13 Service Canada
Community Offices, and two Scheduled Outreach locations (Port au
Port and Sheshatshiu). Strategically located throughout
Newfoundland and Labrador, these sites offer a wealth of
services to displaced workers including job readiness,
employment counseling, income support and other related
services. |
Career
Work Centres Career counseling,
r�sum� writing and job search assistance are just a few of the
services offered through the province�s network of Career Work
Centres. HRLE currently operates 10 Career Work Centres
throughout the province: St. John�s (two sites), Carbonear,
Placentia, Clarenville, Gander, Lewisporte, Springdale, Grand
Falls.-Windsor, and now Happy Valley-Goose Bay. To complete the
planned network of 14 sites, centres in Corner Brook,
Stephenville, St Anthony and Marystown will open by the end of
2009.
Career Work Centres provide individuals with
access to computers and the Internet to assist in writing cover
letters or r�sum�s and conduct on-line job searches. At no cost,
telephone, fax and photocopiers are also available. In addition,
individuals may use the centre to access daily and weekly
newspapers as well as a variety of printed labour market, career
and employment materials. Career Work Centres also promote
social interaction and networking opportunities to help clients
get better connected to services in the broader community.
Displaced workers who are interested in
finding out further information about the supports available to
them should contact their nearest Career Work Centre. Complete
contact information is available at www.lmiworks.nl.ca.
Alternatively, they may contact the Labour Market and Career
Information Hotline at 1-800-563-6600, or e-mail LMCIHotline@gov.nl.ca. |
Labour
Market Supports In addition to
offering these services, HRLE and Service Canada can provide
displaced workers with a suite of labour market supports, such
as skills development, access to training (or re-training), wage
subsidies and information on how to start your own business. |
Labour
Market Development Agreement (i.e. "Devolution")
On November 2, 2009, Newfoundland and Labrador
will assume responsibility for the design and delivery of
approximately $133 million annually in EI-funded Employment
Benefits and Support Measures under a devolved Labour Market
Development Agreement (LMDA).
The new LMDA is expected to significantly
enhance the province�s capacity to respond to the emerging
employment challenges and opportunities presented by the current
period of economic rapid change. It will provide for greater
flexibility in the design and implementation of labour market
programs and services, and it will also simplify access for
clients and reduce the administrative barriers they often face
accessing existing services.
For more information on the LMDA, please visit
www.hrle.gov.nl.ca |
Labour
Market Agreement and Strategic Training and Transition Fund
A new Labour Market Agreement (LMA) and new
Strategic Training and Transition Fund (STTF) will help ensure
individuals throughout Newfoundland and Labrador have access to
the employment and training supports they need.
These new initiatives will help expand and
enhance the current suite of provincial labour market programs
to provide supports for unemployed, non-EI eligible persons;
employed, lower-skilled workers; as well as workers who are
being impacted by the current economic downturn. Over 2,000
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians will benefit from these
initiatives this year alone. These programs are being funded
through a $17.8 million investment in 2009 by the Government of
Canada. |
2009 08 10 11:20 a.m. |