Fort McMurray, Alberta — A project jointly funded by the Governments of Canada and Alberta will help 70 unemployed older workers enhance their employability skills so they can return to the workforce.

Brian Jean, Member of Parliament for Fort McMurray–Athabasca, Alberta, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, and Alberta Minister of Human Services, Dave Hancock, made the announcement today.

“Our government’s top priority is jobs and the economy,” said Mr. Jean. “This is why we are taking action to ensure unemployed older workers in Fort McMurray have the opportunity to learn important job skills and return to the workforce as soon as possible.”

“All Albertans deserve an opportunity to participate in the province’s growth,” said Minister Hancock. “Engaging older workers is an important part of our strategy, Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce. Alberta continues to create new jobs and this funding will help us keep delivering services though our Alberta Works Centres.”

Under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, the two governments provided $400,000 for the Fort McMurray Employment Services project.

The Targeted Initiative for Older Workers is part of the Government of Canada’s broader strategy to create an educated, skilled and flexible workforce. The Government highlighted its commitment to this strategy in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. To date, this program has helped more than 16 000 unemployed older workers retrain for new careers.

The Government of Alberta is dedicated to helping older workers remain in the workforce under its strategy, Building and Educating Tomorrow’s Workforce. The action plan, engaging the mature worker, supports this strategy and was released in April 2011.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca. To learn more about Alberta’s workforce strategy, visit www.employment.alberta.ca