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The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency is acutely aware of the serious impact of the closure on the fishers, plant workers and communities dependent on the cod fishery in Atlantic Canada and is moving quickly to address the needs of those most affected.

COMMUNITY-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE

The Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) is investing $30 million over two years to provide assistance for community-based economic development initiatives.

ACOA will begin working with community organizations in the affected regions throughout Atlantic Canada to identify opportunities for the creation of alternative employment and to develop sustainable economies in those communities.

The funding for these community-based initiatives will flow through ACOA's Strategic Community Investment Fund*, which is already being modified to respond to special circumstances resulting from the closure of the three cod fisheries. In order to receive government funding, community proposals must demonstrate that their projects will provide employment for people displaced by this closure.

Once the projects have been approved, affected fishers and plant workers who are not now eligible for Employment Insurance, or whose Employment Insurance is about to expire, will be able to apply for short-term, insurable employment.

Who is eligible for assistance through the new community-based economic development measures?

The funding will be available to communities affected by the closure. This will include communities where the fish processing plant will close, communities where the fish processing plant doesn't close but provides inadequate employment for workers to qualify for Employment Insurance, and communities with fish harvesters who will have inadequate fishing income to qualify for Employment Insurance.

INCREASING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF LOCAL ECONOMIES

ACOA and Canada Economic Development, along with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Human Resources Development Canada will enter into a dialogue with community groups, community leaders, the provincial governments and other stakeholders in the areas most affected by the closures. The purpose of the dialogue is to determine what further measures will be required for a comprehensive approach to strengthening the sustainability of local economies.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the Regional Economic Development Boards (REDBs), the sub-regional organizations, will play a key role in devising a detailed plan for their respective areas. Other development associations as well as the municipal and provincial government will be brought into the process.

Although these meetings will take place primarily in Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec, affected communities in the Maritime provinces will also be engaged.

The outcome of the discussions will be an identification of the comparative advantages, the economic opportunities and the priorities of the areas affected by the cod closures.

For further information:

Individuals who are currently eligible for Employment Insurance (EI) may apply for EI benefits immediately. Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) also has other programs designed to help individuals re-enter the labour market; they should contact their local HRDC office for further information.

Community-based groups that would like to discuss proposals to provide alternate forms of employment for individuals affected by the closure of the cod fisheries should contact the ACOA office nearest them.

* ACOA's Strategic Community Investment Fund (SCIF) is designed to support strategic initiatives that respond to the economic development needs of Atlantic Canada and help communities strengthen their economic base. The primary focus of this initiative is on projects in rural areas.

The Fund is a component of the Atlantic Investment Partnership, a five-year Government of Canada initiative designed to help Atlantic Canadians compete in the global, knowledge-based economy.