Question - Labour Demands - April 14, 2008

 Mr. Mervin Tweed (Brandon—Souris, CPC): Mr. Speaker, thanks to the leadership of this Prime Minister and the Minister of Finance, Manitoba is experiencing near record growth. The unemployment rate is 4.3% and 21,000 new well-paying full time jobs have been created in the past year alone. Clearly the hard work of this government is paying off for the people in Manitoba.

Despite this great news, we know that employers are experiencing great demand for workers with the necessary skills to fill these new jobs.

Can the Minister of Human Resources and Social Development tell this House what he is doing to help meet the labour demands in Manitoba?

Hon. Monte Solberg (Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Brandon—Souris for his outstanding representation for the people of that riding. He is a great voice for the people of Manitoba.

    I was in Winnipeg on Friday and announced, along with the minister of training there, $110 million in new funds from the federal government to provide people who are underrepresented in the workforce a chance to get training. Aboriginals, recent immigrants and persons with disabilities will get the support they need to step into the workforce. This is an example of our philosophy that all Canadians deserve a hand up to help them succeed like everyone else has come to know.