The Government of Canada Helps Ridge Meadows and Tri-City Residents Get Jobs

"Our government is proud to support community organizations that help unemployed people find and keep quality jobs," said Mr. Moore. "Not only will this funding help more than 1,100 local individuals who need employment and career help, but it will also help local employers recruit and keep staff for the long term."

Douglas College will receive $1,004,453 in funding from Service Canada's Employment Assistance Services program to support their Career Builders Plus programs. The Career Builders Plus programs in the Ridge Meadows and Tri-City areas will help individuals re-enter the work force by offering career assistance, through either a series of classroom-based sessions on such topics as skills assessments and goal setting, or through individualized programs tailored to meet each participant's employment-assistance needs.

These projects reflect the Government of Canada's commitment to strengthening the economy for all Canadians. Through its Advantage Canada plan, the Government is building on Canada's strengths and gaining a global competitive advantage by creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world, reducing taxes for all Canadians, increasing competition in the marketplace, and building modern infrastructure.

Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however they choose-by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.

BACKGROUNDER

Employment Assistance Services

The Employment Assistance Services (EAS) program provides funding to organizations that offer employment services to help clients re-enter the labour market. Funding for the EAS program was provided for in the March 2007 federal budget.

All unemployed Canadians have access to a range of services under the EAS program. However, some EAS offerings are available only to clients who are eligible to receive Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, or who have recently been receiving EI benefits.

Employment Assistance Services include providing clients with information about the labour market, help with preparing resumes, career-planning services, employment counselling, diagnostic assessment, help with job-search skills, job-finding clubs, and job-placement services.

Eligible recipients of EAS funding are businesses (including federal Crown corporations and provincial/territorial Crown corporations), organizations, individuals, public health and educational institutions, municipal governments, and band/tribal councils, as well as some provincial/territorial government departments and agencies. These entities act as employers or service coordinators under the program.

This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with Service Canada's administration of its grants and contributions programs, and is subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.

This news release is available in alternative formats on request. Call 1-800-788-8282 on a touch-tone phone or through a teletypewriter (TTY). servicecanada.gc.ca