Human Resources, Labour and Employment
September 17, 2010Government Partners to Help
Unemployed Older Workers Prepare for New Jobs
A joint initiative of the governments of Canada and Newfoundland and
Labrador is helping unemployed older workers learn new skills to assist
them in finding and keeping new jobs. Since April 2009, this initiative
has supported 22 projects across the province, providing skills training
for over 350 people to help them re-enter the workforce.
The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of National Defence
and Regional Minister for
Newfoundland and Labrador,
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, announced that the two
levels of government are providing almost $6 million in funding for
these projects through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers.
"When Canadians lose their jobs, we want to help them get back into
the workforce as soon as possible," said Minister MacKay. "Canada's
Economic Action Plan, in partnership with the Province of Newfoundland
and Labrador, is ensuring that older workers get the support, training
and skills development opportunities they need to find jobs and adapt to
the changing economy."
"While Newfoundland and Labrador is doing well overall, the recent
period of rapid economic change has resulted in downsizing for certain
key industries and key employers in many regions of this province," said
Minister Sullivan. "Workers who have made lifelong contributions to
these industries and companies have been the most vulnerable when such
downsizing takes place. The projects announced today provide an
excellent opportunity for community-based agencies to help these workers
transition into new and rewarding careers, which in turn revitalizes
regional economies throughout Newfoundland and Labrador."
In 2009, Canada's Economic Action Plan provided an additional
$60 million nationally for the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
over three years. The Economic Action Plan is the Government of Canada's
strategy to protect the economy by helping Canadians. To learn more
about the Plan
, please visit the following website:
www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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Media contacts:
Bradley Power
Director of
Communications
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
709-729-0753, 699-5707
bradleypower@gov.nl.ca |
Michelle Bakos
Press
Secretary
Office
of
Minister
Finley
819-994-2482 |
Media Relations Office
Human
Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559 |
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BACKGROUNDER
Targeted Initiative for Older Workers Program
The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is a
federal-provincial/territorial cost-shared initiative that provides
employment assistance services and employability improvement activities,
such as skills upgrading and work experience, to assist unemployed older
workers aged 55 to 64 living in communities experiencing ongoing high
unemployment, and/or significant downsizing or closures.
The Government of Canada launched the Initiative in 2006 with a
$70-million commitment, and it invested
another $90 million in 2008 to extend the Initiative
to March 31, 2012. Canada's Economic Action Plan provided an additional
$60 million nationally for this
initiative
over three years.
To date, approximately 13,400 unemployed older workers across Canada
have been helped through the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers.
2010 09 17 9:40 a.m.
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