Governments of Canada and Yukon helping unemployed workers
WHITEHORSE, YUKON, February 8, 2010—Yukon workers who need help in finding employment will benefit from training programs funded through the Canada-Yukon Labour Market Development Agreement. Beginning February 1, the federal government is funding the Government of Yukon’s own skills development programs.
Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Honourable Patrick Rouble, Minister of Education for Yukon, and Senator Daniel Lang celebrated the implementation of the new transfer Labour Market Development Agreement and announced new project funding.
“Our government is taking action to ensure Yukoners, and indeed all Canadians, are job-ready by providing greater opportunities for skills development and training,” said Minister Finley. “We know that workers in different provinces and territories have different needs; that’s why the provinces and territories are best placed to design and deliver these types of programs. The Canada-Yukon Labour Market Development Agreementhas made this a reality.”
Yukon has assumed responsibility for the design and delivery of skills development and employment programs funded under the Employment Insurance program. Under the new agreement, the federal government transfers approximately $4 million annually in training funds to the Territory.
With this transfer, every province and territory has now assumed responsibility for designing and delivering employment programs that had been managed by the Government of Canada.
“Under the Labour Market Development Agreement, the Government of Yukon is now overseeing assistance programs that help prepare Employment Insurance clients for new jobs,” said Minister Rouble. “By assuming responsibility for these programs, we are now better positioned to work with our stakeholders and match our skills development programs with our economic agenda to prepare Yukoners for Yukon jobs. We are pleased to partner with the Government of Canada to support Employment Central in preparing Yukoners for Yukon job opportunities.”
The ministers also announced that Judy L. Corley Consulting Inc. will receive $876,639 under the Employment Assistance Services program for its Employment Central project, which will provide job search resources and career counselling to participants, as well as help them develop a return to work action plan and explore professional options. This funding will enable more unemployed people to prepare for the workforce and find a job.
“Employment Central has become the hub of job search for Yukoners since 2001, when we first started operations, and this funding will enable us to continue our programming into 2012,” said Ms. Judy Corley, President of Judy L. Corley Consulting Inc. “We look forward to working with the Yukon Government on programs and services that address Yukon’s labour market issues and emerging trends.”
Supporting employment programming is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The Government underscored this commitment in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. The Plan provides more than $3.75 million in additional funding to Yukon over two years through existing labour market agreements.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada
819-994-5559
Michele Royle
Communications, Education
Government of Yukon
867-393-7102
michele.royle@gov.yk.ca
Roxanne Vallevand
Cabinet Communications
Government of Yukon
867-633-7949
roxanne.vallevand@gov.yk.ca
IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.
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This news release is available online at www.actionplan.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Under the new Canada-Yukon Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA), the Government of Yukon has assumed responsibility for the design and delivery of Employment Insurance (EI)-funded benefits and measures. The Government of Canada will now provide funding directly to Yukon to deliver these programs.
The LMDA supports funding for labour market programs and services for Yukon residents who are now collecting EI benefits or have received them in the last three years, or for parents re‑entering the labour force who have collected EI parental benefits in the last five years.
Prior to this agreement, the Government of Canada administered the employment benefits and support measures, consulting with the Government of Yukon on program plans and priorities. Through this agreement, the federal government’s funding enables Yukon to design and deliver skills and employment training programs, such as Skills Development, Job Creation Partnerships and Targeted Wage Subsidies, as well as employment services for unemployed Canadians, particularly those who are eligible for EI benefits.
As part of the transition, Yukon has agreed to honour all existing contracts with individual clients and service providers. Yukon has also assumed responsibility for the Job Bank, the national labour exchange system for job seekers and employers with job vacancies. As a result, Job Bank has a new phone number and Web address in Yukon, and forwarding is already in place. The Yukon Department of Education also welcomed four new staff who transferred from Service Canada and who will continue to work in the offices at the Elijah Smith Building for several months. Staff phone numbers remain the same.
Service Canada continues to administer EI income support and to deliver labour market programs for youth and persons with disabilities. Funding for agreement holders under the Government of Canada’s Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy is also not affected by the implementation of the LMDA.
Employment Central, an LMDA-funded project, was established in 2001 and has proven to be very successful in helping unemployed Yukoners overcome barriers to employment, such as a lack of job search skills, education or skills gaps or job maintenance issues. To accomplish this, Employment Central partners with all support services within Yukon and with First Nations governments. Between December 1, 2009, and January 31, 2012, Judy L. Corley Consulting Inc. will help facilitate access to current employment and labour market information by providing job search resources and career counselling to 6,708 individuals. Through ongoing support, unemployed workers will have the resources they need to prepare for the job market.
