TORONTO: The New Democrats say the Liberal government’s new job retraining strategy shuts out northern Ontario forestry workers.
Premier Dalton McGuinty unveiled a three-year, $355-million plan June 6 to provide 20,000 laid-off workers with up to $28,000 for two years of retraining.
But NDP Leader Howard Hampton said the plan excludes anyone who’s been out of work for more than a year—including about 100,000 people in manufacturing and about 10,000 in forestry.
Hampton said workers from one-industry towns in the north are the ones who really need retraining if they ever hope to land another job.
McGuinty said Ontario already spends $1 billion every year to help about 900,000 unemployed workers. The government’s second-career strategy is meant to help others who can devote two years to retraining, something he noted is difficult for middle-aged people with kids and a mortgage.

© 2008 The Canadian Press