Fisheries and Aquaculture
Executive Council
August 29, 2012
Over Half a Million Dollars for Employment Support Projects in Labrador
Through an investment of $500,140, the Dunderdale Government is supporting individuals affected by a permanent fish plant closure in the communities of Black Tickle and St. Lewis, Labrador. Two community improvement projects are being supported under the Fish Plant Workers Employment Support Program.
“Our government is committed to supporting displaced workers whose lives have been negatively affected by the closure of their local fish plant,” said the Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Municipal Affairs. “In the unfortunate circumstances where a community in our province experiences a fish plant closure, our government has always been there to help the former employees. These projects provide short-term employment opportunities, while the town benefits from meaningful repairs and improvements.”
Through the sponsored projects, displaced workers will perform repairs and upgrades to community halls, churches, and water treatment plants, for example.
“When fish plants close due to economic factors or resource availability, communities face unprecedented challenges and uncertainty,” said the Honourable Darin King, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture. “Our government has responded today through the delivery of meaningful projects that support community growth and development, and provide workers an income while they look for new employment.”
Workers will also dismantle a recreation centre building and reuse good material to build a recycling depot. Details of the projects can be found in the backgrounder below.
“The Provincial Government remains focused on the needs of Labradorians,” said the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs. “We will continue to work together as we make investments that support our residents, our communities and the region.”
The Fish Plant Worker Employment Support Program is a provincially-funded, targeted program focused on creating short-term employment for workers from fish plants designated as permanently closed. The program provides workers with a maximum of one 14-week rotation (560 hours), less any insurable hours of employment they have already earned during the current year for the purpose of establishing Employment Insurance benefits. Workers and their communities will also avail of employment counselling and supports provided by the Department of Advanced Education and Skills, and the Department of Innovation, Business and Rural Development, respectively.
- 30 -
Media contacts:
| Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Municipal Affairs 709-729-1983, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
Bradley Power Director of Communications Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture 709-729-3733, 699-5707 BradleyPower@gov.nl.ca |
| Carol Ann Carter Director of Communications Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Labrador Affairs Office 729-1674, 631-9505 carolanncarter@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
List of Fish Plant Worker Employment Support Program Projects in Labrador
| Community | Project Description | Provincial Government Investment |
| Local Service District of Black Tickle/Domino | Perform repairs and upgrades to a community hall, church, and water treatment plant; dismantle recreation centre building and reuse good material to build a recycling depot; undertake a community clean-up; and, cut a walking trail. | $400,140 |
| St. Lewis Town Council | Capture the St. Lewis culture through oral history and crafts; construct a greenhouse near St. Lewis Academy to be used for educational purposes and to operate as a student business module under the Enterprise Education Program; construct a walkway to the American Deep Water Creek site; restore the mercantile fishing premises for a community museum; construct a day park and a swimming area, as well as a gazebo, at the traditional lookout; restore a 1920 Snow Mercantile Storage Cellar to its original state using materials from that era; and, upgrade local snowmobile trails. | $100,00 |
2012 08 29 11:45 a.m.