The Government of Canada helps South Okanagan residents gain skills and jobs

February 19, 2008

photo courtesy of Sherri-Lynn Nemechek

PENTICTON, British Columbia — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Member of Parliament for Okanagan–Coquihalla and Minister of Public Safety, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced Employment Assistance Services funding for three projects to help more than 25,000 unemployed workers in the South Okanagan and surrounding area re-enter the work force.

“The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world,” said Minister Day. “Not only will our investment help more than 25,000 individuals in the South Okanagan area find and keep quality jobs, but it will also benefit local employers and the local economy.”

WorkZone Employment Services and Resource Centre will receive $6,562,316 in funding over three years; the CBD Network will receive $777,358 in funding over two years; and the Southern Interior Construction Association will receive $244,425 in funding over two years from Service Canada’s Employment Assistance Services program. Through access to job-search facilities, job-search workshops, employment counselling, information on trade-related occupations and apprenticeship programs, and employment-readiness programming and services, these projects will help local individuals gain the skills they need to find and maintain employment.

These projects reflect the Government of Canada’s commitment to creating a strong economy for all Canadians. Through its Advantage Canada plan, the Government is building on Canada’s strengths and gaining a global competitive advantage by reducing taxes for all Canadians, increasing competition in the marketplace, and building modern infrastructure.

The Government has also taken steps to address skills shortages and promote the trades as a quality career option by funding skills-related projects and creating the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, a taxable cash grant of $1,000 a year that is available to registered apprentices in the first two years of a Red Seal trade program.

Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however they choose—by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.