NB 449
April 13, 2007
SAINT JOHN (CNB) - Partners Building Futures has reached a significant milestone, with 30 students completing the 10-week pre-employment training period, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Ed Doherty announced today.
"This is a special day for these students, and they deserve our praise," the minister said. "All the students in the three test regions have completed or nearly completed the first portion of this historic project. The next stage will be to map out their career goals and apply to various employers in their chosen fields."
Doherty said the students in the Saint John and Moncton regions have completed the training period, while students in the Bathurst region will complete the first stage the week of April 16.
Partners Building Futures is the first project of its kind in Canada. The project's aim is to test and determine the range of support needed to enable women currently on social assistance to achieve self-sufficiency through a career in the non-traditional skilled trades. A second wave of students will begin their 10-week pre-employment training in the three test regions in September.
Participants receive exposure in different fields such as automotive, metals and construction, and are trained in occupational health and safety and life skills. Once employed, they will become registered apprentices through the Apprenticeship and Certification branch of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour and will be required to complete the standard apprenticeship requirements until time of certification.
To assist in the transition from social assistance to self-sufficiency, participants will receive continuous supports from the project over a two-year period of employment and education such as mentoring, a basic tool allowance, a pre-employment training allowance, a wage subsidy and travel allowance.
"Achieving self-sufficiency in our province will require a variety of creative approaches," Doherty said. "As stated in our Charter for Change, we need to ensure New Brunswickers get the skills training they need, where they need it and when they need it. This pilot project is an innovative approach to addressing labour force needs in the skilled trades, and I look forward to its continued progress. Most of all, I wish these participants the very best as they continue in this new and exciting direction in their lives."
The Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick officially launched the Partners Building Futures project in November 2006. The project is delivered by Skills/Compétences Canada New Brunswick and co-funded under Human Resources and Social Development Canada's Pan-Canadian Innovation Initiative, as well as the departments of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour and Family and Community Services.
07/04/13
MEDIA CONTACT: Shawn Hearn, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, 506-453-2568.
07/04/13