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Advanced Education and Skills
June 8, 2012

Minister Clarifies Approval Process for Job Creation Partnerships

The Job Creation Partnerships (JCP) program is continuing to help people gain the work experience and skills necessary to secure a long-term attachment to the labour market.

Today, the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills, clarified the approvals process for the JCP program. The clarification was made necessary due to inaccuracies distributed in a recent news release by St. Barbe MHA Jim Bennett.

Minister Burke noted that all Job Creation Partnership projects are assessed taking into account factors such as local economic and employment conditions, including the number of Employment Insurance recipients in the region, as well as the benefits for project participants and their communities.

“The JCP projects awarded during the latest round of approvals reflect these criteria,” said Minister Burke. “For example, in Opposition MHA Andrew Parsons' District of Burgeo - La Poile $619,347 was approved for seven projects. This was the second highest amount approved, totalling just under 10 per cent of the total $6.28 million.”

While clearly established criteria were followed in the approvals process for JCPs, Minister Burke also noted that the Official Opposition holds 12.5 per cent of the seats in the House of Assembly and their total approved projects under the JCP program was 12.7 per cent.

“JCP approvals are granted on the basis of the benefits they bring to the people who take part in the program and their communities,” said Minister Burke. “For the MHA for St. Barbe to attach political motives to the distribution of JCPs, when his colleague, the MHA for Burgeo - La Poile represents a district that is one of the greatest recipients of this program, is irresponsible and insulting – especially to the communities that take part in this program and the people working to gain new skills and work experience.”

The Job Creation Partnership program funding is provided through direct contributions to sponsors or through the extension of Employment Insurance benefits for project participants and may include in-kind or in-cash contributions from sponsors. In November 2009, responsibility for Labour Market Development Agreement programs and services, including the Job Creation Partnership program, transferred from the Federal Government to the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador. Since that time, the Provincial Government has delivered approximately 710 projects with a total value of nearly $34 million, providing employment for over 3,571 individuals.

For a complete list of all recently approved Job Creation Partnership projects and for more information on the Labour Market Development Agreement, please visit: www.aes.gov.nl.ca/lmda/jcp.html 

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Advanced Education and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca 

2012 06 08             3:55 p.m.

 
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