B.C., feds help older workers; Videos teach Alberta students about work safety; Territory launches immigrant nominee program; Quebec encourages early mat leave; more support for N.S. Magna workers; U.S. unemployment hits 9.7 per cent
B.C., feds help older workers
Victoria — The federal and British Columbia governments are investing more than $30 million in a program to help keep older workers active in the province’s workforce. The funds will create 19 new agreements under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, which will help an additional 471 unemployed older workers in B.C. acquire new skills and find jobs. The initiative has also been extended to March 2010. In all, 22 partnerships will be funded and up to 1,000 unemployed workers in B.C. will be helped by the program.
Videos teach Alberta students about work safety
Edmonton — High school students now have access to a comprehensive library of health and safety DVDs that support a new career and technology studies program. The free collection of more than 70 safety training programs covers a range of health and safety topics from the office to the welding shop. The DVDs are made available through a partnership between the Government of Alberta and the Job Safety Skills Society. Employers can also access the library through www.jobsafetyskills.com.
Territory launches immigrant nominee program
Yellowknife — Eight years after the Yukon created an immigrant nominee program, the Northwest Territories has followed suit. Applicants can apply for the Northwest Territories Nominee Program under two employer-driven categories (the skilled worker and critical impact worker streams) and two business categories (the entrepreneur and self-employed streams). The fast-track Canadian immigration program will enable the territory to fulfill its labour market and community needs by welcoming more immigrants to settle and work in the territory, said Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Canada Jason Kenney.
Quebec encourages early mat leave
Quebec — Pregnant teachers and daycare and hospital workers should take advantage of the province’s early maternity leave program to try to avoid being exposed to children infected with the H1N1 flu virus, according to Quebec public health authorities. Under the province’s “maternity without danger” program, a pregnant woman can apply for preventive leave with a doctor’s medical recommendation. Ultimately, the Commission de la santé et de la sécurité du travail decides whether or not to grant the leave and informs the employer. Several school boards in the province have already implemented similar policies.
more support for N.S. Magna workers
Sydney, N.S. — Employees who lost their jobs when Magna-Precision Finished Components closed its doors earlier this year will receive more transition support from the province. Since the closure was announced last December, the provincial and federal governments have been providing support to the 218 displaced workers, including career counselling, job search and resumé writing tools, labour market information and skill-upgrading opportunities. The 195 workers who accepted a salary continuance package that provides normal salary and benefits, along with access to provincially supported training programs, aren’t eligible for employment insurance and EI training programs. Therefore, the Department of Labour and Workforce Development will provide $387,000 to retrain those workers.
U.S. unemployment hits 9.7 per cent
Washington — The United States economy shed 216,000 jobs in August, pushing the country’s unemployment rate to a 16-year high of 9.7 per cent. While the jobless rate rose more than expected, the number of job losses was less than the 276,000 lost in July and the lowest number of the year, according to Labor Department data. Since the recession began in 2007, the U.S. economy has lost a net total of 6.9 million jobs and there are now 14.9 million unemployed workers. (For a look at current Canadian numbers, see page 4.)
