May 17, 2002, York Region Human Services project to address shortage of professional workers in heal

NEWMARKET, ONTARIO—Ms. Karen Kraft Sloan, Member of Parliament for York North, today announced on behalf of the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada, $260,614 in Government of Canada funding towards a York Region Human Services Planning Coalition project. The project will address the shortage of professional health, education and social services workers in the rapidly growing York Region.

"The shortage of qualified heath care, education and social services professionals is recognized as a growing concern at the local, provincial and national levels," said Ms. Kraft Sloan. "In York Region, with its rapid population growth and changing demographic profile, the urgency to address these labour market needs is particularly great."

The Government of Canada is supporting this project through the Labour Market Partnerships (LMP) Program, a support measure under the Employment Insurance Act. In the course of the project, York Region's Human Services Planning Coalition (HPSC) will address the real human resource issues that employers and workers are faced with in providing these human services.

"A longer term outcome of this project is to develop ongoing partnerships as a new way of doing business for human service agencies," said York Regional Chair Bill Fisch. "Collaborative human resource efforts and promotion of best practices will increasingly be the way of addressing common issues in York Region's human services work force."

York Region's Human Services Planning Coalition, a partnership of government representatives, service provider agencies and non-profit sector and consumers, addresses common concerns related to the provision of health, education and social services in York Region.

Previous studies in York Region have identified the following issues:

over 2,000 additional workers are required for new long-term beds;
there are shortages of health inspectors, occupational and physical therapists, speech and language pathologists, medical technologists, and workers in social services, mental health, child protection and recreation;
320 new entry-level nurses are required for the next 10 years to keep pace with the expansion in health care facilities and community-based care; and

there are doctor shortages in many communities, especially East Gwillimbury and Georgina.

Under this project, the HPSC will develop an inventory of information and communications products for all human services employers to use in profiling opportunities in York Region. The study will also examine human resources best management practices aimed at recruiting and managing a diverse human services work force.

HRDC's LMP program encourages communities to take greater responsibility for the local labour market by actively involving community partners. Partners include employers, employer/employee associations, communities and community organizations.

The LMP program promotes better functioning of the labour market—ensuring workers have access to employment opportunities, while also ensuring employers have access to a skilled work force.

Funding for this project was provided for in the December 2001 Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grant and contribution programs.

For more information about Labour Market Partnerships, visit http://www18.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/programs/llmp/desc.asp.

For more information on the Regional Municipality of York, their services and links to the nine area municipalities, visit www.region.york.on.ca.

For more information, contact:

Paul Rollin Wendy Lewis, Corporate Communications

Media Relations Unit York Region

Human Resources Development Canada 1 877 464-9675, ext. 1238

(819) 994-5559

York Region Human Services project to address shortage of professional workers in health, education and social services