News Releases
Government Home Search Sitemap Contact Us  

Human Resources, Labour and Employment
Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
June 3, 2010

New Co-operative Enterprise Pilot Project Encourages
Skill Development and Career Opportunities for Youth

Young people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador will have the opportunity to develop new skills and pursue career development opportunities in the co-operative business sector through a new pilot project, Skills Development and Career Opportunities for Youth: The Co-operative Enterprise Option. Through a Provincial Government investment of $250,000 over three years, the Departments of Human Resources, Labour and Employment and Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, will work in partnership with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives to support this initiative.

"This initiative will directly assist young people throughout Newfoundland and Labrador, particularly in rural areas, in their search for meaningful employment opportunities," said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. "It will also inform young people about how they can create jobs for themselves by using worker ownership co-op models."

"Co-op development enables businesses to come together and realize the benefits of combining resources to target new opportunities," said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development. "The work of the Provincial Government, in collaboration with the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives, will help create awareness of co-ops, how they support business growth, and continue to cultivate the entrepreneurial spirit of the province's youth."

In addition to generating opportunities for skills and career development for youth, this pilot project will also assist the province's co-operatives in addressing employee succession issues and the ongoing success of their enterprises.

"We are very excited that the Provincial Government is supporting this initiative," said Glen Fitzpatrick, Managing Director, Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives. "We know that young people want to play a strong role in creating sustainable business and employment opportunities in this province. This project will help us strengthen our services to help ensure youth are aware of the benefits of co-operatives business ventures and give them opportunities to become involved with, and explore our sector."

The funding for this initiative is being provided under the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Agreement (LMA).

- 30 -

Media contacts:

Bradley Power
Director of Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-0753, 697-5216
bradleypower@gov.nl.ca 
Glen Fitzpatrick
Managing Director
Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Co-operatives
709-726-9431
gfitz@nlfc.nf.ca
 
Scott Barfoot
Director of Communications
Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development
709-729-4570, 690-6290
scottbarfoot@gov.nl.ca 
 


2010 06 03                                                  10:30 a.m.
 


SearchHomeBack to GovernmentContact Us


All material copyright the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. No unauthorized copying or redeployment permitted. The Government assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of any material deployed on an unauthorized server.
Disclaimer/Copyright/Privacy Statement