Government of Canada announces funding to help Greater Kingston area address its labour market needs

KINGSTON, ONTARIO—The Honourable Peter Milliken, Member of Parliament for Kingston and the Islands, welcomed the announcement from the Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, of $22,115 in funding for a skilled trades fair in Kingston.

The Government of Canada is supporting this project through the Labour Market Partnerships program, a support measure of the Employment Insurance (EI) Act announced on July 1, 1996. The skilled trades fair will help Kingston meet its local employment needs.

Under the project, Kingston Employment Youth Services Inc. will provide the area with a skilled trades fair that will increase awareness of skilled trades among youth and unemployed individuals. The event will provide participants with information and workshops that detail strategies to enter the skilled trades. It will also work to connect youth and other unemployed individuals with employers and job opportunities in the skilled trades.

“This funding supports an organization that is trying to make a positive impact in the community,” said Mr. Milliken. “The skilled trades fair will provide people in the Kingston area with the information and opportunities they need to find employment in the skilled trades.”

In addition to the Government of Canada’s contribution of $22,115, the Kingston Employment Youth Services Inc. will contribute $13,500 to the project.

The Labour Market Partnerships (LMP) program encourages communities to take greater responsibility for creating local employment by actively involving community partners. Partners include employers; employees or their associations; provincial, territorial, and municipal governments; non-governmental organizations; health and educational institutions; band and tribal councils; and individuals and groups, among others.

The LMP program allows communities to improve their capacity for dealing with human resources requirements and for implementing labour force adjustments that support long-term job creation. Human Resource Centres of Canada can provide funding up to a maximum of three years under Labour Market Partnerships.

Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2003 federal Budget.

This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department’s administration of its grant and contribution programs.

PROJECT SUMMARY- Government of Canada funding: $22,115 through the Labour Market Partnerships program- Objective: provide the Greater Kingston area with a skilled trades fair that will increase awareness of skilled trades among youth and unemployed individuals

- 30 -

For more information:

Peter Clarke
Director, Kingston Management Area
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(613) 545-8562