It is time for local organizations to start thinking about applying for the Canada Summer Jobs program. The application period opened Feb. 1 and closes Feb. 28.
This year, Nanaimo-Cowichan will see a slight increase in funding up to $409,205.
Many local community organizations depend on this program to help increase their staff for the busy tourist season. And many students depend on the jobs and experience they gain to help them when they return to full-time studies or when they graduate.
Service Canada will assess employer proposals using seven criteria: service to local communities; jobs that support local priorities; jobs that provide career-related experience or early work experience; jobs with a salary that contributes to the student’s income; employers who provide supervision and mentoring; project activities that are directed toward members of, and support the vitality of, an official language minority community; and employers who intend to hire priority students (students with disabilities, aboriginal students and students who are members of visible minority groups).
Since the local priorities are a small but important part of the assessment, each year I work with community organizations to develop local priorities for funding. Last year, they were:
• community-based not-for-profit
• tourism and tourist information centres
• summer programs and camps for children
• skilled shortage areas such as skilled trades in construction, value-added manufacturing, hospitality, technology and health
• environmental protection/green industries such as community agriculture and food security, habitat maintenance/restoration, environmental damage prevention, alternative energy, quality and quantity of surface and ground water, etc.
• arts and culture
• community-based entrepreneurial businesses, as well as those involved in research and development
To apply, go to www.servicecana
da.gc.ca/eng/epb/yi/yep/programs/scpp.shtml.
In October, there were five job seekers for every available job in Canada. That’s makes the changes to Employment Insurance (EI) rules even more harmful to Canadian workers. Under the new rules, workers must now accept lower-paying jobs up to an hour away from home or risk losing their benefits, even if the job has nothing to do with your career.
These Conservative changes are not about helping workers. Economists say these changes will simply increase competition for the scarce jobs that exist now — driving wages down for all.
EI isn’t a gift. It’s an insurance program created for Canadian workers. You pay EI premiums on every paycheque.
In a resource- and tourism-based labour market like ours, EI benefits have helped mill workers stay in their communities through the ups and downs of forestry industry restructuring. Instead of attacking workers for needing help when they can’t find a job in their area or career, the Conservatives should be doing more for job creation.
