Ottawa and Quebec help experienced workers in Montmagny-L'Islet re-enter the
workforce

L'ISLET, QC, Feb. 18 /CNW Telbec/ - Mr. Bernard Généreux, Member of Parliament for Montmagny-L'Islet-Kamouraska-Rivière-du-Loup, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Mr. Norbert Morin, Member of the National Assembly for Montmagny-L'Islet, on behalf of Mr. Sam Hamad, Minister of Employment and Social Solidarity and Minister of Labour for Quebec, announced that the governments of Canada and Quebec are jointly investing more than $1 million in the regional county municipalities of Montmagny and L'Islet to help 80 older workers who have been affected by layoffs re-enter the workforce. This investment will enable the Centre d'aide et de recherche d'emploi Montmagny-L'Islet, sponsor of a project entitled Cible 55, to help these workers, aged 55 to 64, return to the workforce over the next two years.

"When Canadians, including older workers, lose their jobs, we want to help them re-enter the workforce as quickly as possible," said Mr. Généreux. "Each region has specific needs, which is why we are working closely with our partners in Quebec to ensure that older workers are able to receive the support, training and skills development opportunities that they require to find jobs and adapt to economic changes."

"The last few months have been difficult for a significant number of experienced workers, especially in manufacturing sectors such as the textile and forestry industries. We must support these individuals so that the regional labour market can benefit from their experience and knowledge. The project organized by the Centre d'aide et de recherche d'emploi Montmagny-L'Islet will help meet this objective, as it will allow these workers to demonstrate their skills and acquire new ones," added Mr. Morin.

The Cible 55 project will offer personalized, adapted support to older workers by assessing their skills to determine how transferable they are to another sector. The sponsor's team will teach the workers job search strategies and provide them with assisted placements or coaching with a view to helping them find new employment.

The Canada-Quebec Targeted Initiative for Older Workers agreement was renewed and signed in spring 2009. Under this agreement, the Cible 55 project will receive $909,278 in funding from the Government of Canada and $173,196 from the Government of Quebec.

The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers has already helped more than 8,400 Canadians. Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Initiative will receive $60 million over three years in additional funding from the Government of Canada.

For further information: Amélie Bouillon, Information Officer - Communications, Emploi-Québec, Chaudière-Appalaches, [phone], extension 273; Sources: Michelle Bakos, Press Secretary, Office of Minister Finley, [phone]; Alexandre Boucher, Press Secretary, Office of Minister Hamad, [phone]; Media Relations Office, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, [phone]