NEED PROGRAM

On Friday, November 19, Judy Erola, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, invited representatives of women's group's to a meeting for the purpose of discussing the New Employment Expansion and Development program (NEED), recently announced by Lloyd Axworthy, Minister of Employment and Immigration.

The object of the program is to create new, productive employment for persons who are unemployed.

To this end, the federal government has allocated $500 million to create some 60,000 jobs between now and March 31, 1984. Projects will be developed on a regional basis. Project employees will be required to meet the following criteria: they must be legally entitled to work in Canada, be unemployed, have the skills required, and have exhausted all entitlement to Unemployment

Insurance benefits or be in receipt of social assistance. Projects may cover a wide range of activities, employing any number of people. For example, projects may focus on tourism development, heritage restoration, housing, energy conservation, pollution, cultural activities, social and community support projects (including child care, services for the elderly and women's services.)

Susan Vander Voet, national coordinator of CCLOW, attended the meeting with Ms. Erola. The Minister pointed out that women must be encouraged to tap into the NEED program, and asked CCLOW to assist in this aim. Applications are available at Canada Manpower Centres. Following is a list of NEED program representatives, according to region: