FOR RELEASE     #08-050
March 11, 2008

WHITEHORSE – The Yukon government is making progress to address labour shortages in Yukon by taking a broad multi-departmental
approach which includes the Departments of Education, Health and Social Services, and Economic Development.

“We currently have 112 applications for the Yukon Nominee Program YNP),” Education Minister Patrick Rouble stated. “Improvements to the YNP announced in November are helping Yukon businesses with their current and future labour market shortages. The Yukon government recognizes that employers are finding it increasingly difficult to attract and retain workers. These improvements to the YNP are fast tracking the immigration of skilled and semi-skilled workers in high demand fields.

“Recent meetings in Ottawa with Human Resources and Social Development Minister Monte Solberg and Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley were positive and we are encouraged by their commitment to work with us in addressing Yukon’s changing needs.”

“As a result of social assistance reform, new incentives encourage social assistance recipients to enter the workforce,” Health and Social Services Minister Brad Cathers said.

“In addition, by increasing the Yukon Child Benefit and raising the maximum level from $25,000 to $30,000 per year, and through enhancements to the child care subsidy, we are helping parents enter the workforce,” Cathers added.

“Our economy remains strong.  We will continue to support the business community in finding creative solutions to assist in meeting their labour market needs,” Economic Development Minister Jim Kenyon said.

For further information on the Yukon Nominee program, contact the Advanced Education Branch at 667-5727. For further information on social assistance reform, the Yukon Child Benefit, and the child care subsidy, contact Health and Social Services at 667-3673.

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Backgrounder below:

Yukon Nominee Program

The program was approved in 2001.  It currently has three streams: 

1. Skilled Worker,
2. Critical Impact Worker
3. Business

- Advanced Education administers the Skilled Worker category.  It is designed to attract skilled individuals who will assist with shortages of skilled workers in Yukon businesses, industries and communities.  We have had applications from 37 employers who have nominated Skilled Workers, and 27 have been approved.

- Advanced Education also administers the Critical Impact Worker category which is designed to assist Yukon’s business community in attracting entry level workers in cases where the survival or success of the business is at stake.  The category was approved in December 2007 on a pilot basis for one year and we have 75 Critical Impact Worker nominee applications to date.

- The Business Nominee Program (managed by Economic Development) is designed to attract business expertise and investment capital to Yukon.  The program has two separate streams:   Business and Entrepreneur.  To date, 10 applications have been approved under this program with another 9 in progress.

Settlement Services

This program includes the following:

- English as a Second Language training
- Job counseling and employment related workshops
- Helping immigrants adjust to a new culture through multicultural workshops, assistance in finding services and assistance in meeting newcomers from the same countries.
- As of May 1, 2005, Settlement Services are being delivered by the Association Franco-Yukonnaise (AFY).  The Association was the successful bidder on a tender issued by CIC. Advanced Education sat on the committee that determined the bid.
- The contract is for a centralized approach to the delivery of settlement services in Yukon which includes an ESL program called Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC), and a newcomer Host support program.
- Approximately $150,000 is spent by CIC annually in Yukon on settlement services.  The amount is based on a per capita formula.  This formula is currently being reviewed by CIC with provinces and territories.

Off- Campus Work Permits for Foreign Students

Foreign students studying in Canada can now apply for off-campus work permits. Although the Minister of Education signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CIC, there is no Yukon Government involvement. The process takes place directly between the applicant and CIC without any provincial or territorial involvement.
 
Francophone Immigration

Under the Strategic Framework to Foster Immigration to Francophone Minority Communities, Canada provides funding to encourage and enable the promotion of the immigration of French-speaking people. Yukon’s Association Franco-Yukonnaise signed an MOU with CIC in 2005 to receive some funding support on a year by year basis. Canada and Yukon cooperated in supporting the Association to participate in Destination Canada in 2006 and 2007 which is an immigrant worker recruiting fair held in France and Belgium.  One Yukon private sector employer participated with the Association in 2007 and was successful in securing immigrant workers.

Immigration Portal

The portal is a web-based interactive information site designed to assist potential immigrants in accessing opportunities Canada-wide as well as individual provinces and territories. Multi-year contribution agreements of up to $200,000 per year for a 4 year period have been negotiated with each province and territory.  Education has signed the agreement and has initiated a work plan for 2007-2008.  Citizenship and Immigration Canada will provide funding for this initiative until 2010.

Targeted Older Worker Program

The Targeted Initiative for Older Worker (TIOW) is a two year initiative that helps unemployed older workers. It is targeted towards a community with high unemployment, a high reliance on a single industry affected by downsizing or rural communities with chronic high unemployment.
Projects are designed to improve the employability of participants from 55 to 64 years of age, and may assist in prior learning assessment, skills upgrading and providing experience in new fields of work.
The results of the first intake are as follows: 
• 15 participants enrolled in September 2007
• 3 participants deferred until January due to personal reasons
• 9 participants have now been employed
• 3 participants plan to upgrade their IT skills before returning to work. These three individuals were offered employment but opted instead to acquire more extensive IT skills as a priority.

Job Fairs

A job fair, hosted by Council for Yukon First Nations and the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation in January 2008, brought high school students from Yukon together in Whitehorse.  Speakers, employers and representatives from colleges and technical schools from Yukon and Western Canada presented a range of career and training information to the students at the highly successful event.

STEP Program

There are two Student Employment Programs coordinated by the Department of Education.

The Department of Education also assists Yukon employers with summer worker shortages by providing wage and employment cost subsidies for student summer employment.

Student Training Employment Program (STEP) is projected to provide $368,000 toward assisting approximately 140 post-secondary student positions in the summer of 2008. 

The Summer Career Placement (SCP) program is projected to provide an additional $114,500 toward assisting approximately 65 students or Yukon unemployed youth employment positions this coming season.