The Government of Canada Helps Residents of Surrey and Surrounding Areas Gain Skills and Jobs

SURREY, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 20, 2007) - Nina Grewal, Member of Parliament for Fleetwood-Port Kells, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding for the Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society to help unemployed workers and immigrants in Surrey and the surrounding area prepare for, obtain, and maintain jobs.

"Our government is proud to support community organizations that help unemployed individuals find and keep quality jobs," said Ms. Grewal. "Not only will this funding help more than 300 newcomers and multicultural Canadians in the Surrey area who need employment and career assistance, but it will also benefit local employers and the local economy."

The Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society's Immigrant Job Club will receive $400,502 in funding through the Employment Assistance Services program. Through employment counselling, job-search workshops, and employment-readiness programming and services, this project will help more than 300 unemployed workers and immigrants gain the skills they need to find and maintain employment.

The Government of Canada has taken steps to ensure that newcomers to Canada can more fully participate in the labour market. Specifically, the Government:

- created the Foreign Credentials Referral Office to help internationally trained individuals find the information and access the services they need to put their skills to work quickly in Canada;

- reduced the Right of Permanent Residence Fee by 50 percent; and

- welcomed 250,000 more newcomers to the country in 2006.

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 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.

Public inquiries:
1-800-O-Canada (1-800-622-6232)
TTY: 1-800-926-9105
servicecanada.gc.ca