- about real individuals who are finding opportunities.’

found that led them, toa better farure," %

Giving Business a Hiring Boost -

and government find: common. identifies a need for businesses to
ground. But BC Chamber of * take a pro-active tole in working
Commerce Chair Naomi Yamamoto toward long-term prosperity.

_ says ‘while the two sectors occasion- ‘And that means jobs,”
ally differ on policy, they: do: agree,

af Columbians back: t work,

“ ment-funded program. “Today, itpro-
vides le adership 2 and the nenvorking Socal Moving Forward, ‘Yamamoto
~ power of more than 100 local . "says, one-third of BC businesses

 Nordli's employer Cheryl Miller, -
“oT peeded. someone who could 2 ! ; igs eae perpen

handle all these aspects.""She MOY eta: | duals and for business =") ) POUT ORs a
asa single mother, was out of work

98 find a full-time, long- term job.»

ie all

Business Works a Beacon of Hope
When it comes to talking about jobs, Andrew Petter prefers to talk about what's real,
like the 1,700 people who are now back to work in BC through the workplace-based
training program Business. Works, and those who still need programs like this to help
nurture them into the workforce. “This program is really about action,” says BC’s ‘Minister of Advanced Education,
Training & Technology, whose ministry funds the program. “It’s about people’s lives — not theoretical: speople: but

He also likes to look at what’s real in terms of government ssorking with business. What's real now is that the
BC government and BC Chamber of Commerce are successtully working together to assist people | in moving -
beyond i income assistance into jobs with real futures.”

“Government and business are finding common ground, and | think there’s more common oui than
difference. We both have an interest in generating jobs, growing the economy and producing wealth wal. in tum
will be invested back by business and will help to support public programs. '

Workplace-based training, he says; assists people to feel supported and valued in the. often tough process oft Te-
entering the workforce. “What this program can do,” says, Petter, “is hold out a beacon for people who may have
given up hope or are close to giving up hope. me can See: ‘there's s an avenue that others in similar situations haye -

It’s not every. ‘day that. business _ “in- depth study of BC. business,

: Yamamoto § says.” “Busiriess Works
recognizes that what's needed isa -
operative effort between. business
~~ and government and labour.” .
oo Small k business creates most tof,
‘the new jobs in-the province, she.
~ adds. Last year small business hired
64,000 people. During that same.
period big business laid off 9,000. .

on the value of putting British ~

‘isa program | that i is working
really well. with'government,” :
“Last year, the BC Chamber ceil
agreed to spearhead. the BC-govein-

-. people up nd those that’ have’:
_ successful employees have g gon
. back and hired more.” ® \-

ec a. Social Policy Leader, sz says Human |
Resources Minister Pullinger _ :

"British Columbia’ is aleaderin dence through

~ Chambers, representing 23,000. expressed a desire to hire. What
developing | innovative social poli- training opportuni:

businesses throughout BC with “stopped them? Not finding people =

“more than 150,000 employees, - with the right skills and right atti- ~ cies which help people 1 move from ties available thanks
“Yamamoto says the Chamber's’ tude, That’s where Business Works welfare to ade Nearly 73,000. toelfective
Movin g For ward publication, an comes in. fewer people receive income assis- government-private

tance since the BC Benefits... sector partnerships

tag — tn program was introdiiced in 1996... like Business Works. *
3 Mom says jobs program helps" _ About 17,000 of these people © Business Works.has given many
are parents of dependent children. income assistance clients new hope .
When Barbara Nordli landed a 1 defi initely have more confi: These families are gaining ==: and helped them reattach to the ©
ib at Nanaimo's Westwood dence now,” Nordli says. ‘Just tlio . confidence and. pane indepen- "4 _ labour market. = Jan Puillinger
Racquet Club through: Business being able to stand on my own two [=i 2 to play in’ ear a ices!
Works, she took a steep climb up feet -- to carn for myself and look gan RY a ine rt
the learning curve of experience, after my amily: BINS TF me a sense

For starters, Nordli had to learn. al pride.” ®
cashier, receptionist and customer: -
service skills. Then she moved

‘on ta accounting, food arid |e i 2 er ee niet Kasper. Sue

beverage service and computers, { \ “It is tial to the economic [ate . BRITISH

Today, Nordli puts tagether the health of BC that businesses, and eae BRITISH

*235-member club's newslener le have tlie. 4

and mailing lists, Of course, she mete ht eee ‘opportunity to access train ‘1 | British Columbia Chamber ‘ac Ministry of Advanced
also cooks and bakes forthe club's FSi e Mien: Hen A cand employn nt program: such 3 of Commerce Education, Training & Technology

dinners, partics and fourmamenit Me ce " anne ee orks ” oe

functions: i q eae

-*Wedo it all here," says (| Aa

pithy
Yoieethn ay

nu gonna ‘or ane Wes Coast |

-fotind that someone in Nordli who,” ch a successful: 8 local Chambers of Commerce throughout BC.
for severnl years arid wns thrilled 10 a. fun ae "Ge Ne ‘North Island MLA “Special thanks to our community sponsor tha News Groin,

“Glenn Roberton | |. 5 without whom this special supplamont would not have been rsa

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