2002 Provincial Employment Program

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT--2002 Provincial Employment Program Announced

Economic Development Minister Gordon Balser announced today the 2002 Nova Scotia Provincial Employment Program (PEP). The $3.47 million program will create about 1,500 career-related jobs.

"With PEP, we're focusing on preparing students for the future," said Mr. Balser. "The program will provide post-secondary students with the hands-on experience they'll need in their chosen careers."

PEP focuses on jobs for post-secondary students and work experience for unemployed people. The Office of Economic Development administers 50 per cent of the program's budget in several areas, including student employment, co-operative- education employment and student-loan employment.

The remaining 50 per cent is committed to seven other programs in the departments of Education, Environment and Labour, Tourism and Culture, Community Services, Public Service Commission, Natural Resources and the Nova Scotia Youth Secretariat.

The 2002 program has been reduced by $1.2 million compared to last year's.

"Because we are determined to balance the budget, we took a very close look at this program, just as we've looked at virtually every other provincial expenditure," said Mr. Balser. "The proposed budget for this program enables us to continue providing a valuable training resource in the context of our current fiscal realities."

PEP reflects government's commitment to creating jobs for students and focuses on those with the greatest need -- the not- for-profit sector and areas with high unemployment.

"Employers across the province benefit from the talent and the training of our students," said Mr. Balser. "PEP is particularly important to volunteer organizations looking to hire young Nova Scotians to work on worthwhile community projects."

The Nova Scotia Employment Program for Students is a PEP program that creates, in partnership with not-for-profit organizations, career-related summer jobs for post-secondary students.

Employers and students who need more information about the Employment Program for Students can check the Internet at www.gov.ns.ca/econ/pep/nseps/. Employers who have participated in the program before are being mailed this year's information and applications today.

Information on other departments' employment programs can be obtained from those departments.

The deadline for employers to submit project applications to the Office of Economic Development for the Nova Scotia Employment Program for Students is April 9.