NLIS 2
November 7, 2002
(Municipal and Provincial Affairs)
 

Province to assist families through Job Creation Program

Oliver Langdon, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs, today announced a provincial employment initiative to provide assistance to areas of the province where significant numbers of people are unemployed or have not been able to secure sufficient employment to support their families.

As in previous years the initiative will target areas experiencing the greatest hardship. The funding will be allocated on a priority basis to those communities in greatest need. The minister noted, "While there has been a general improvement in the provincial economy, certain areas continue to be challenged by factors beyond their control."

The total amount of funding will depend on the assessed need. The minister therefore did not indicate how much would be spent on the program but did suggest it is expected that it should not be necessary to spend as much as in some previous years.

Through this program, government is also responding to recent concerns expressed regarding visibility of moose that may be close to the sides of the highways. "While not being limited to this, the focus of this year�s program is brush cutting along the province�s highways. This will assist in visibility and increase safety while providing people with much-needed work and insurable earnings," said Minister Langdon.

Minister Langdon encourages the federal government to reconsider its position on job creation programs. "In recent years the federal government changed its policy, and as a result, federal job creation programs do not provide employment insurable hours. The province therefore finds itself alone in carrying the burden of assisting families in securing income throughout the year."

The program will be administered by the Department of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and will be funded from savings realized in other parts of the department�s budget.

Media contact: Lynn Hammond, (709) 729-1983.

2002 11 07                                      11:35 a.m. 


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