The ACTEW Blog

I’m thrilled to report back from this meeting at the Employment and Education Centre in Brockville last Wednesday and Thursday, November 29 and 30.

The LMDA Update on Wednesday was an excellent opportunity for people in Eastern Ontario to hear about LMDA implementation from the MTCU and Service Canada. About fifty stakeholders from community agencies, public and private colleges, and provincial and federal government attended this session presented by Patrick Donnelly (MTCU District Manager for Eastern Region) and Cheri Crosby (Director of Eastern Ontario Service Canada Centres).

The messages weren’t any different from what we at ACTEW have been hearing.

• Business continuity is the main focus now, meaning there will be as little disruption to agencies and clients as possible as of January 1, 2007.
  
• Attendees were concerned that communications would be a challenge through the transition, expressing worry that they would not receive accurate and up-to-date information.
• Many felt that keeping client-focused may be difficult through the implementation.
  
• Attendees also saw the integration of federal and provincial systems as an opportunity for reducing duplication, revisiting program structures, and enhancing and improving client services.
  

November 30 was the Women’s Summit, an event that invited women job-seekers and their service providers to spend the day thinking about career paths. ACTEW participated in a "gaps analysis" session, in which attendees discussed the employment-related challenges and opportunities for women in Eastern Ontario. The feedback is being compiled; once it's available I’ll post the results here.

The Employment and Education Centre will share these results in meetings with their MP Gord Brown and MPP Bob Runciman.

Our thanks to the Employment and Education Centre for hosting two fantastic events!

Deanna

Labels: Meetings_and_Events, MTCU_Updates