Re: One-stop shopping for job hunters, ‘Gag order’ slammed, ‘Bean counting’ prompts concern (Feb. 8, 2010).
I would like to clarify some of the information contained in these three articles.
One of our top priorities as government is to assist as many unemployed British Columbians to get back to work as quickly as possible.
When we inherited employment and training programs from the federal government two years ago, they arrived with more than 300 contracts delivered from 223 separate locations. In Salmon Arm alone, there are three separate employment assistance service centres and a range of additional employment services provided by contractors for people on income assistance and employment insurance.
It means that a person looking for training to get back to work would have to figure out where to go and sometimes they would have to go to multiple locations. That’s inefficient, costly and counterproductive to our goal of getting people back to work quickly.
Government consulted for two years on developing a new employment centre model that delivers all employment and training programs under one roof. Our goal is that no one will be left behind as we move towards a new ‘one-stop shopping’ model. When fully operational by spring of next year, unemployed British Columbians – including minorities and immigrants – entering an employment centre will have access to a full range of employment services regardless of where they live. Small companies or agencies currently offering employment and training services are welcome to bid on contracts and participate in helping people get jobs that build healthy, economically vibrant communities.
We have structured the bidding process and government fees paid for contracts to be as flexible as possible to encourage small companies/agencies to band together and put forward competitive bids. If they can deliver employment and training services cost-effectively, the opportunity is definitely available for them to provide it in a new employment centre that focuses on getting people back to work in sustainable jobs that support themselves and their families.
I encourage your readers to visit our website for more information: http://www.labourmarketservices.gov.bc.ca/community_organizations/service_providers_business_transformation.html.
Kevin Krueger, Minister of Social Development
