(Queen’s Park) Today, during Question Period, the Minister of Training, Colleges and University, John Milloy, refused to answer a question from Elizabeth Witmer, the PC Education Critic, as to when funding for the Second Career Program would again start to flow.
Witmer’s question was on behalf of the dozens of local residents who were notified late last week that they would not receive retraining funding from the Second Career Program for courses which they were to begin today, and into the future at Conestoga College.
“Many people have contacted me to express their shock and devastation at the last minute cancellation of their retraining plans,” said Witmer. “One man said the government had made a promise and now has broken it. As a result he has hit rock bottom.”
Currently, 28,000 local residents are looking for work in the Waterloo Region. Some of those who had applied to the Second Career Program to upgrade their skills to help them find a new job, received this shocking news at a time when their Employment Insurance is running out and they are finding it difficult to pay their rent and mortgages.
“I urge the Premier who has consistently said he wants to be known as the Education Premier to stop short-changing the needs of adults who need retraining and immediately find a funding solution for these adults,” said Witmer.
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For more information contact:
Elizabeth Witmer, MPP
(416) 325-1306