Peter Shokeir | [email protected]
The Jasper Employment and Education Centre is warning that its in-person services could end for Jasper under a recent proposal from the provincial government.
Ginette Marcoux, director of the employment centre, described herself as 鈥渟hocked and very disappointed鈥� upon hearing this proposal during the pandemic when Alberta has been dealing with layoffs and labour disruptions.
鈥淲e鈥檝e seen people鈥檚 careers completely wiped out who鈥檝e had to do a 180 completely with their careers because they couldn鈥檛 work,鈥� Marcoux said.
鈥淚 was shocked to see the government reducing services so drastically in our communities.鈥�
The province recently issued a request for proposal, which closes on June 4, for career and employment services for people with high barriers to employment in the northwest region.
The contract would serve 120 highly-barriered clients in the region and would begin to impact Jasper next February should it go through.
Jasper鈥檚 job centre currently provides counselling services to 150 clients each year.
Marcoux said this service was especially important for a transient community such as Jasper, which has a high influx of seasonal workers every spring and then a turnover in the fall.
鈥淭o think that we would not have an employment office in the community. Employers would potentially lose out in all that workforce because if there is no centralized place for people to find employment opportunities, where will they go?鈥�
She described the centre as a 鈥渢ouchstone鈥� for all employment services where workers from across Canada and internationally reach out for job opportunities.
The centre also provides resources such as print-and-copying services and community orientation while also fielding inquires about labour standards and human rights.
On May 18, Jasper Municipal Council also voted to write a letter of support for employment services in Jasper.
No plans for closure: province
Rob Williams, spokesperson for Community and Social Services, said in an email that the government had no plans to close any employment centres in Alberta.
Williams explained that the new contract was geared for those who are unemployed or underemployed and need additional assistance finding work.
鈥淚n some cases, it may not be suitable to deliver these services virtually; in-person services will continue to be available,鈥� Williams said.
鈥淲e are not reducing physical offices or in-person services, although at this time some services have been limited due to COVID-19.鈥�
Williams added that the province would work with the Jasper Employment and Education Centre 鈥渢o identify and plan for the employment service needs in the region.鈥�
