Government of Canada helps people in Campbellton improve their essential skills

From Employment and Social Development Canada

December 18, 2017 Campbellton, New Brunswick Employment and Social Development Canada

In a knowledge-based economy and society, strong essential skills are critical in helping adult Canadians find and keep good quality jobs.

That’s why, today, René Arseneault, Member of Parliament for Madawaska—Restigouche, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced an innovative bilingual project that will help residents of Campbellton, NB as well as in other provinces to develop their skills so they are better prepared to gain ground in the workforce.

The Government of Canada will provide over $3.1 million, over three and half years, in an online workplace training program, developed and delivered by Restigouche Community Business Development Corporation (CBDC). Restigouche CBDC will work with up to 360 participants including official language minority communities, women and Indigenous people, recruited through businesses from 5 provinces in the pilot phase, to help them develop essential skills, such as decision making, problem solving and critical thinking.

This online training program will serve as an excellent model that can be customized by employers across the country. By empowering employers with these kinds of innovative tools, an even higher number of employees already working in this sector will benefit from gaining essential skills needed in the manufacturing industry today and in the future.

Through the Office of Literacy and Essential Skills, the Government of Canada works in partnership with provincial and territorial governments, employers and community organizations to provide Canadians with the resources they need to take advantage of job opportunities, contribute meaningfully to their communities and share in the country’s prosperity.

Quotes

“Our economy is stronger when more Canadians get the skills they need to advance in their field. This project in Campbellton is one example of how partners can work together on training initiatives that contribute to the success of our communities and strengthening the middle class.”

– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“Our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate. Through this project, more people in Campbellton will get essential skills and literacy training, which are a foundation for lifelong learning, so they can succeed in the workforce.”

– René Arseneault, Member of Parliament for Madawaska—Restigouche

“Companies that favour workers’ skill development move toward continuous improvement. Worker training is like insurance for quality and it improves an organization’s capacity to innovate; workplace training increases that company’s competitive edge. This innovative online training will do just that by broadening workers’ capacity to engage in critical thinking, to become better problem solvers, and to be better at finding and sharing information”.

– Reno Michel Haché, Design, Research and Development Coordinator, Restigouche Community Business Development Corporation

Quick Facts

• The Government of Canada works, on average, with more than 400 organizations across Canada every year to foster literacy and essential skills upgrading. These investments contribute in supporting on average more than 10 000 Canadians per year to augment their skills and by doing so has helped them find and keep good quality jobs.
• Essential skills include the skills associated with literacy (i.e. reading, writing, document use and numeracy), as well as thinking skills, oral communication, digital skills, working with others and the skills associated with continuous learning. They provide the foundation for learning all other skills and enable people to better prepare for, get and keep a job, and adapt and succeed at work.
• Literacy skills are more than just reading and writing. They allow individuals to identify, understand, interpret, communicate, and use information. Improving literacy enriches people’s lives and their communities. They are critical for people to succeed.

Associated Links

• Office of Literacy and Essential Skills

Contacts

Carolle LeBlanc
Adjointe de circonscription
Bureau : René Arseneault, député – M.P.
(506) 789-4593
rene.arseneault.C1@parl.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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