Governments to Fund Older Workers Pilot Projects

The government of Canada and the province of Nova Scotia together have committed $1.1 million to fund pilot projects that will help older workers to remain in the work force or reintegrate into the labour market.

Robert Thibault, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans, on behalf of Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, and MLA Mary Ann McGrath, on behalf of Jane Purves, Minister of Education for Nova Scotia, announced the initiative today, June 17.

"There are a number of older Canadians who wish to stay in the work force but face a number of difficult challenges," said Mr. Thibault. "This agreement and these projects announced today demonstrate the federal and provincial governments' commitment to ensuring that older workers have access to the tools and support they need to prepare for, find and maintain employment."

The government of Canada will contribute $733,500 and the province will provide $372,400 in in-kind contributions, for a total of $1,105,900 to the Canada-Nova Scotia Older Workers Pilot Project Initiative.

"The option of additional years of work is increasingly desirable for a growing number of older workers," said Ms. McGrath. "This initiative will help many older Nova Scotians get the training and support they need, and is one of the building blocks in our plan for a skilled and adaptable workforce."

The Seasoned Employee Education and Development Skills (SEEDS) Centre, in Halifax, is one of the first pilot projects to be funded under this initiative.

The SEEDS Centre will receive $169,000 in funding through the initiative to provide older workers with programs and services to help support them in entering or re-entering the workforce. Housed at the United Food and Commercial Worker (UFCW) Training Centre, the SEEDS project will offer workers transition support, work and life exploration, computer skills, as well as workplace safety and health-related programming.

Through the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, the government of Canada and the provincial and territorial governments committed themselves to finding ways to address common labour-market challenges. Together, they set parameters for the Older Workers Pilot Project Initiative. The federal government and participating provincial and territorial governments are now co- funding projects under the initiative.

Funding for this initiative is provided through the federal $30- million Older Workers Pilot Project Initiative, which was announced in June 1999.

In addition to the Nova Scotia agreement, agreements have been signed with the provinces of Saskatchewan, British Columbia, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, the Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Funding for these pilot projects is available until March 31, 2003.