Brent St. Denis finds seasonal work

Algoma-Manitoulin MP Brent St. Denis has been appointed by Prime Minister Jean Chretien as chair of a new federal caucus task force on seasonal work.

Among other things, the task force will look at the needs of seasonal industries and workers for skills development and life-long learning.

St. Denis' task force will report back to the Prime Minister by January 2004.

The following press releases were distributed today by Brent St. Denis and the Prime Minister's Office:

**************************************************************** Prime Minister announces the creation of a caucus talk force on seasonal work

Brent St. Denis MP to chair

October 10, 2003… Brent St. Denis, M.P. for Algoma-Manitoulin, is pleased to accept the position as Chair for the Caucus Task Force on Seasonal Work.

"I am pleased and honoured that the Prime Minister has asked me to serve Parliament and Canada in this way," stated Mr. St. Denis.

"I believe that this appointment will allow me to bring a new perspective to my primary responsibility of representing my constituents," he added.

The Task Force will examine many of the specific needs of seasonal industries and workers in the area of skills development and life-long learning.

It will also look for ways to promote greater economic diversity and improve the strength of local economies, particularly in rural and remote communities across Canada.

The Task Force will deliver its report to the Prime Minister by January 2004.

Members of the Prime Minister’s Caucus Task Force on Seasonal Work include:

Chair: Brent St-Denis, MP (Algoma-Manitoulin)

Vice-Chair: Senator Pierrette Ringuette-Maltais, (New Brunswick) Members: Senator Libby Hubley, (Prince Edward Island) Senator Lorna Milne, (Ontario) Dominic LeBlanc, MP (Beauséjour-Petitcodiac) Jeannot Castonguay, MP (Madawaska-Restigouche) John Harvard, MP (Charleswood-St. James-Assiniboia) Georges Farrah, MP (Bonaventure-Gaspé-Îles-de-la-Madeleine-Pabok) Nancy Karetak-Lindell, MP (Nunavut)

**************************************************************** Prime minister announces the creation of a Caucus Task Force on Seasonal Work

October 9, 2003 Ottawa (Ontario)

Prime Minister Jean Chrétien announced today the creation of a Caucus Task Force on Seasonal Work.

The Task Force will assess the challenges facing seasonal industries, workers, and the communities in which they live; assess existing resources and gaps; and provide advice on areas for possible action in the future.

"We must ensure that all parts of our economy remain competitive and that our communities remain strong," said the Prime Minister.

"Seasonal work is an important part of the Canadian social and economic fabric. In recent years this sector has undergone dramatic shifts and currently faces a number of significant challenges.

"The Caucus Task Force will examine ways to make better use of existing federal resources in seasonal work dependent communities and to improve collaboration with other orders of government, private and voluntary sector partners."

The Task Force will examine:

- the specific needs of seasonal industries and workers in the area of skills development, life-long learning, and literacy - ways to promote greater economic diversity and stronger local economies, particularly in rural and remote communities across Canada - the supports required to help seasonal work dependent communities to adapt to and seize opportunities provided by the new knowledge-based, global economy - ways of lowering barriers to regional and interprovincial labour mobility - how to align income support programmes such as Employment Insurance and Provincial Social Assistance Programmes to improve income support, while also promoting full, year-round participation in the labour force - ways of addressing the challenges and opportunities offered by temporary foreign workers.

The Task Force will deliver its report to the Prime Minister by January 2004.

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