Government of Canada Supports Youth Employment Program in Saskatchewan

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN-Feb. 18, 2009 - At-risk Aboriginal youth facing barriers to employment are getting valuable job-preparation training thanks to the Government of Canada's investment in a local employment program. Mr. Maurice Vellacott, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon-Wanuskewin, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"In today's environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills to help them participate and succeed in the job market," said Mr. Vellacott. "By working with our provincial and community partners to support this project, we are helping at-risk young Canadians gain the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their potential."

The Generations Ahead Family Learning Centre, through its Work Preparation Project, will help six at-risk Aboriginal youth in the Rosthern area develop life and job skills to ease the transition to work or to return to school. This project will receive over $37,000 in funding through the federal Youth Employment Strategy's Skills Link program.

"Our on-site and funding partnerships with North West Regional College, the Rosthern Employment Program, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's Skills Link program, CanSask, the Prairie Spirit School Division and the Town of Rosthern, as well as a new partnership with the Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network and many close ties with the Aboriginal community, make Generations Ahead an ideal resource for serving the local youth and community of Rosthern," said Ms. Donna Lerat, Executive Director of Generations Ahead Family Learning Centre Inc.

Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada's strategy to create the best-educated, most-skilled and most flexible work force in the world. The Government underscored this commitment in January when it introduced Canada's Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development.

"We are delighted to partner with the Government of Canada to assist more First Nations and Metis youth," Saskatchewan Advanced Education, Employment and Labour Minister Rob Norris said. "By gaining valuable knowledge and skills, these young people will be well positioned to contribute to and benefit from the economic growth underway in our province."

The federal government works in partnership with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders to ensure that Canadians get the training, skills and opportunities they need to participate in the work force and contribute to the quality of life in their communities.

Government of Canada Supports More Than 800 Projects Across Canada for Seniors

OTTAWA, ONTARIO-Feb. 18, 2009 - The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and the Honourable Marjory LeBreton, Leader of the Government in the Senate and Minister of State (Seniors), today announced the Government of Canada's support for more than 800 New Horizons for Seniors Program projects across the country. These projects will ensure that seniors have the opportunity to participate and take an active leadership role in their communities.

Ministers Finley and LeBreton made the announcement at an event held at Lifetime Networks Ottawa, which received funding for its project entitled Mentoring Seniors with Developmentally Disabled Adult Children. Under this project, seniors in the community will mentor other seniors by sharing skills and knowledge to help plan for the future of their adult children with disabilities and develop social networks.

"The Government of Canada is proud to support seniors in strengthening our communities and building our country," said Minister Finley. "These projects across Canada enable seniors to continue participating and taking leadership roles in their communities."

Total funding for these projects under the Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program is more than $15 million.

"Our goal is to improve the ability of seniors to make a positive difference in their own lives, and of those around them," said Minister LeBreton. "Seniors possess significant experience and have so much knowledge to share."

The Community Participation and Leadership component of the New Horizons for Seniors Program encourages seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership, and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.

Projects may address a wide range of activities led by seniors that benefit communities. Examples include organizing a volunteer outreach program between seniors and youth, and teaching peers new skills such as gardening or cooking. To receive funding, activities must be based locally and endorsed by the community.

With two additional components of the New Horizons for Seniors Program-Capital Assistance and Elder Abuse Awareness-the overall budget of the Program is now $35 million per year.

Since its beginning, the New Horizons for Seniors Program has funded over 4,200 projects across Canada.

Canada's Economic Action Plan and other recent federal initiatives are also addressing the needs of seniors through the introduction of a series of important measures that include:

- Increasing the Age Credit by $1,000, allowing low- and middle-income seniors to receive up to an additional $150 in annual tax savings, for a total of up to $961 in tax relief.

- Providing seniors with $200 million in tax relief by reducing the required minimum withdrawal to the Registered Retirement Income Fund by 25 per cent.

- Providing $400 million over two years through the Affordable Housing Initiative for the construction of housing units for low-income seniors.

- Helping older workers and their families through these tough economic times by investing an additional $60 million over three years in the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, and by expanding the number of eligible communities to include older workers in cities with a population of less than 250,000.


New Horizons for Seniors Program

Across Canada, the New Horizons for Seniors Program (NHSP) helps to ensure that seniors are able to actively contribute to and benefit from the quality of life in their communities.

Building on the success of the NHSP, in Budget 2007, the Government of Canada increased the Program's budget by $10 million per year to provide capital assistance for repairs to facilities and equipment related to existing seniors' programs, and to raise awareness of elder abuse across Canada. This has increased the total budget for the NHSP to $35 million per year.

As a result of the additional $10 million, the Program offers three types of funding to organizations:

1. Community Participation and Leadership funding (up to $25,000 in funding): this funding supports community-based projects across Canada. The projects encourage seniors to continue to play an important role in their communities by helping those in need, providing leadership and sharing their knowledge and skills with others.

2. Capital Assistance funding (up to $25,000 in funding): this funding helps non-profit organizations that need to upgrade facilities or equipment used for existing seniors' programs and activities. It enables seniors to continue to lead active lives by participating in existing programs and activities in their communities.

3. Elder Abuse Awareness funding (up to $250,000 in funding annually over a maximum of three years): this funding helps non-profit organizations and coalitions raise awareness of the abuse of older adults on a national or regional level. Through this funding, new educational and awareness resources about elder abuse will be available to improve quality of life, safety and security for seniors.



- Funding Breakdown by Province and Territory -

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Province or Territory Number of Projects Total Funding Amount
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Alberta 70 $1,380,370
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British Columbia 70 $1,250,629
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Manitoba 37 $565,939
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New Brunswick 34 $596,992
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Newfoundland and Labrador 19 $379,548
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Northwest Territories 5 $106,400
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Nova Scotia 26 $333,759
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Nunavut 3 $74,000
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Ontario 277 $6,105,293
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Prince Edward Island 9 $119,401
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Quebec 223 $3,800,767
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Saskatchewan 24 $301,493
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Yukon 5 $87,075
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Total 802 $15,101,666
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Minister Finley Delivers Keynote Address at Conference on Housing and Homelessness

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Feb. 18, 2009) - The Government of Canada is helping those who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless build a stronger future for themselves.

Today, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister Responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), gave a keynote address at Growing Home: Housing and Homelessness in Canada, the second national conference on homelessness.

"Our government supports many Canadians with housing needs and is fulfilling its commitment to help those seeking to break free of the cycle of homelessness and poverty," said Minister Finley. "That's why I am pleased that our Government's Economic Action Plan outlines major investments for low-income Canadians that will allow governments to work together to improve the quality and energy efficiency of up to 200,000 social housing units for Canadians who need it most."

The Minister delivered the keynote address at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Social Work, as part of a three-day conference aimed at providing a venue for sharing ideas, experiences, research and best practices regarding homelessness. A wide range of individuals attended the conference, including people who are, have been or are at risk of becoming homeless, service providers, policymakers, academics and students.

"Our government is working hard at breaking down barriers that prevent Canadians from achieving self-sufficiency and full participation in society," said Minister Finley.

In September 2008, the Government of Canada announced $1.9 billion over five years for housing and homelessness programs for low-income Canadians. This funding will ensure we can continue to assist those who need support, including homeless people and those at risk of homelessness-low-income Canadians, seniors, people with disabilities, recent immigrants and Aboriginal Canadians.

This funding was confirmed in the Economic Action Plan. In addition, the Government is taking action to strengthen the country's economy with a further investment of more than $2 billion over two years to build new and renovate existing social housing, as well as up to $2 billion in low-cost loans to fund housing-related infrastructure.

The Homelessness Partnering Strategy recognizes that housing stability is essential to self-sufficiency and full participation in Canadian society. It focuses on transitional and supportive housing to help people overcome homelessness. With its clear goals of improved partnerships, enhanced sustainability and tangible results, the Strategy provides concrete, meaningful and lasting results for Canadians in need.

As Canada's national housing agency, CMHC draws on more than 60 years of experience to help Canadians gain access to a variety of quality, environmentally sustainable, and affordable homes-homes that will continue to create vibrant, healthy communities and cities across the country.