March 17, 2009

On Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at the JobsNOW Employment Resource Centre Greg Rickford shared with representatives from Federal and Provincial Governments as well as service delivery agents and educational representatives that the Conservative government is enhancing skills and training support for workers. Workers will soon benefit from better access to the jobs of tomorrow thanks to the Conservative government’s enhanced investment in skills and training programs.

“Each of the enhancements will result in more workers qualifying for and receiving support for skills training and employment support benefits. Families here in our communities can count on our government to help them during these difficult times,” said Rickford.

The Conservative government is enhancing four programs as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan:

• Labour Market Development Agreements – These are federal/provincial agreements which help the provinces and territories deliver skills training support to workers who qualify for EI benefits, in our area most of these are carried out through Employment Ontario.
• The Strategic Training and Transition Fund – This fund supports initiatives that help workers get skills training, despite their differing needs. Initiatives are delivered through existing federal-provincial agreements and provide enhanced flexibility for supporting workers.
• The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers – This initiative supports communities in transition to help workers aged 55 to 64 receive skills training for new jobs. Enhancements will help provide this program to a larger number of affected communities.
• Support for Long-Tenured Workers – This program is especially relevant for workers in our area who will be transitioning from mills where they have held long-term positions and now need to move into new jobs and/or new industries. Long-tenured workers who have been laid off may be able to access EI income benefits that will allow them to train for up to 104 weeks. This could also include up to 12 weeks of benefits following the completion of training. The Conservative government acknowledges that advance skills may require longer periods of training and thus additional support.

“Workers in the Kenora riding have already been impacted and may continue to be as a result of the global economic downturn. As a country we continue to fare better than many of our international allies, but real action is required. We will help susceptible workers retrain and transition into new jobs,” said Rickford. “Our government is taking action to help workers in our communities get the skills and training that they need, quickly.”