Goodyear Visits

Tuesday, 15 July 2014 11:32

Federal Minister Gary Goodyear Visits Woodstock to highlight the federal budget

There are too many Canadians looking for work and too many employers looking for workers.

That comes from Minister of State for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario Gary Goodyear who made a stop in Woodstock this morning to highlight the federal budget.

Goodyear says the 2014 budget is good news for post secondary students.

"For the first time, skilled trades, Red Sealed Apprentices will be eligible for a Canada Student Loan. We have created paid internships for our young Canadians who are entering the job market and we will launch the Canada Job Grant and Enhanced Job services."

Goodyear also outlined a $1.5 billion plan over the next decade for the Canada First Research Excellence Fund for post secondary research.

He says the federal government is committed to growing stronger communities through Investing in Regional Diversification.

"This is designed to encourage Not for Profit and private sectors to team up on projects that build on regional strengths and local expertise primarily to help diversify the local economy. It will help create business infrastructure if necessary."

Goodyear says this came out of their recognition that they still have too many smaller communities across Southern Ontario that still have one or two employers and when things go down, there are pockets of very high unemployment which is not acceptable.

Goodyear says thinking globally is the only way to think these days and if you're not purchasing new equipment and training your staff, then you are falling behind.

"If you're doing the same thing you did five years ago, the same way you did it with maybe the same materials, then ladies and gentlemen, my dad used to say expect the unexpected, but in a case like that, you should at least expect the expected and that is that you will not be in business very long."

As a result, Goodyear says the government is launching the Investing in Business Growth and Productivity initiative designed to help current businesses expand facilities, adopt new technologies and processes that will help expand businesses .

For more on the budget click here.