Unemployed British Columbians will now receive the supports and services they need to get back to work quickly, announced Social Development Minister Stephanie Cadieux today while attending launch celebrations for the new Employment Program of B.C.

Cadieux officially launched the program, which began April 2, 2012, with a visit to two WorkBC Employment Services Centres - a storefront centre in Coquitlam operated by Back in Motion Rehab and a YWCA youth satellite office in North Vancouver.

Service providers are delivering the Employment Program of B.C. through 85 one-stop WorkBC Employment Services Centres throughout the province. Job seekers will be able to access services through these centres, as well as through satellite offices and mobile and outreach services in their communities.

These new centres integrate all of the services the Province currently offers, combining programs that were formerly operated separately by the provincial and federal governments. The new program is about reduced administration, better efficiency and more program dollars being spent on direct services to British Columbians.

All service providers are responsible for ensuring effective service delivery to specialized populations and smaller communities. As a result, specialized populations will continue to receive quality services through the new integrated centres. These specialized populations include immigrants, youth, Aboriginal peoples, francophones, people with multiple barriers, survivors of violence and/or abuse, people with disabilities and people living in rural and remote areas.

The new Employment Program of B.C. will include a comprehensive performance management system to help the ministry assess and adjust the program on an ongoing basis to ensure that people's needs are being met, and a Centre for Employment Excellence that will offer resources, training and technical assistance to the employment services sector, employers and service providers.

In 2012-13, the Ministry of Social Development will invest $343.5 million in employment programs and apprenticeship training, of which nearly $280 million will come from the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Development Agreement.

The new Employment Program of B.C. is part of the BC Jobs Plan. 'Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan' builds on the Province's solid foundation of prudent fiscal management to attract investment and open new markets for B.C. products and services, and to create jobs for British Columbians. As part of the plan, B.C. is making smart investments in infrastructure and is working hard to ensure British Columbians have the right skills for tomorrow.

Quotes:

Minister of Social Development, Stephanie Cadieux -

"British Columbians want to work and take care of their families. The new Employment Program of B.C. provides the training and support people need to get back into the workforce. With WorkBC Employment Services Centres now open across the province, people will get the supports they need to help them find - and keep - a job."

Minister of Canadian Heritage James Moore -

"Our Government's top priority is job creation and economic growth. These new centres will streamline employment services and make it easier for British Columbians to reintegrate into the workforce."

Brent Mulhall, VP of business development, Back in Motion Rehab Inc. -

"The new WorkBC Employment Services Centres are a unique and positive way forward for B.C. job seekers."

"In this model, clients will have access to a wide range of case managers and professional employment counsellors who have experience with new immigrants, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal people and general job seekers and all under one roof. We are excited about the opportunity to be part of this. We think this is a real win for anyone looking for support and resources to help them get to work or have a greater connection with their community. Everyone wants to work, and have a job, and this program will help them with that goal."

Janet Austin, CEO, YWCA Metro Vancouver -

"The YWCA has over 20 years experience providing employment services in Metro Vancouver and our staff are deeply committed to helping our clients find meaningful, long-term employment."

"Through the new Employment Program of BC, people in this community can continue to access the services they need to help them re-join the workforce - and we're thrilled to be a part of that. Our North Vancouver WorkBC Employment Services Centre is already serving our residents, providing the supports and services they need to find work."

Quick Facts:

• The Employment Program of B.C. was developed after an intensive 18-month consultation period.
• Over the next decade, there will be an estimated 1.1 million job openings in the province.
• Since 2001, employment programs have helped more than 73,000 people find jobs in B.C. In the last five years, 29,000 people have found jobs through B.C.'s employment programs.
• In 2011, the average starting wage for people on income assistance who were placed in a job through employment programs was $14.38 an hour.
• Including federal and provincial benefits, a single employable person working at minimum wage will earn $1,437 a month after taxes - more than double income assistance of $610 per month. At the new minimum wage of $10.25 an hour, starting May 1, they would earn $1,526 a month after tax.

Learn more:

For more information about the Employment Program of B.C. or to find a WorkBC Employment Services Centre near you, visit: www.WorkBCCentres.ca

For more information on Canada Starts Here - The B.C. Jobs Plan, visit: www.bcjobsplan.ca

Two backgrounders follow.

Contact:

David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670

BACKGROUNDER 1

April 4, 2012 Ministry of Social Development

Full suite of services offered through new employment program

WorkBC Employment Services Centres provide a full suite of information, employment services, programs and supports to help unemployed people find - and keep - jobs in B.C.

Every unemployed British Columbian, who is eligible to work in B.C., can visit a WorkBC Employment Services Centre. Trained staff will help individuals find the services they need to start and succeed in their job search, including:

• Job search resources.
• Personal employment planning.
• Workshops and training.
• Specialized services.

Job Search Resources

Every WorkBC Employment Services Centre has free tools and resources available, including:

• Computer workstations.
• Public telephones.
• Fax machines.
• Photocopy services.

Personal Employment Planning

For individuals who need extra help getting started, Employment Centre advisors will be available to help build personal employment plans to identify what is needed to help ensure success in the work search. Services include job-search assistance and employment counselling. Financial supports help people get skills training, work experience or launch self-employment opportunities.

Workshops and Training

Every WorkBC Employment Services Centre has workshops for people who want to learn more about finding a job and starting work. Both short- and long-term training programs are available, depending on the needs and the skills required. Employment Centre advisors will help clients determine which workshops or training programs are most appropriate for them.

Specialized Services

Every centre offers special resources for immigrants, youth, Aboriginal peoples, francophones, people with multiple barriers, survivors of violence and/or abuse, people with disabilities and people living in rural and remote areas.

Contact:

David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670

BACKGROUNDER 2

April 4, 2012 Ministry of Social Development

Advisory panels monitor program,

Centre for Employment Excellence shares best practices

The Ministry of Social Development is putting in place two performance measures to monitor the success of the Employment Program of B.C. and will also be launching a new Centre for Employment Excellence.

Two external advisory panels will provide advice and make recommendations to the Ministry of Social Development, ensuring that the needs of job seekers continue to be met. As well, a Centre for Employment Excellence is being established to provide support for the employment services sector, employers and service providers under the new program.

External Advisory Panel

An external advisory panel will oversee the implementation of the Employment Program of B.C. by service providers across the province and will:

• Monitor services and make recommendations for improvement.
• Review the overall program's performance and results.
• Recommend innovative changes to improve the service model, accessibility or service delivery.

Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations

An Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations is being set up to review results, monitor data and ensure that clients from specialized populations are receiving the services they need.

The Expert Advisory Panel on Specialized Populations will be able to identify the numbers of clients receiving specialized services and oversee the program from the perspective of eight specialized populations:

• People with disabilities.
• Immigrants.
• Francophones.
• People with multiple barriers.
• Survivors of violence or abuse.
• Aboriginal peoples.
• Youth.
• People living in rural and remote locations.

Advice from the advisory panels will be shared with the Employment Program of B.C.'s ministry steering committee. Recruitment for the external advisory panels is being managed by the government's Board Resourcing and Development Office: http://www.fin.gov.bc.ca/brdo/

Centre for Employment Excellence

A new Centre for Employment Excellence will be set up to help support the employment services sector, including employers and service providers, with the goal of improving employment outcomes for all unemployed job seekers in the province.

The centre will provide a single co-ordination point for employment research and innovation, tools and training. Resources will include a research and development program, website, and system by which to share best practices throughout the sector. The centre will also act as a critical resource for analysis and evaluation in support of the advisory panels.

The Province has posted a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the Centre for Employment Excellence, which is set to launch in September 2012.

The centre's maximum budget over three years is $2 million, and is funded through the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Development Agreement.

Contact:

David Haslam
Communications Manager
Ministry of Social Development
250 356-1670