News Release Archive

HOUSING/MUNICIPAL AFFAIRS--WINTER WORKS PROGRAM
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Approximately 350 people will be hired this winter to help
maintain the 12 thousand public housing units throughout the
province, Housing and Municipal Affairs Minister Jim Smith said
today, in releasing details of a winter works program.

"This program is good news for two reasons. It is creating jobs
for Nova Scotians who need them the most and at the same time, it
is improving housing stock right across the province," said Dr.
Smith.

The housing authority jobs will be distributed province wide with
priority given to high unemployment areas. These are Victoria,
Richmond, Inverness, Digby, Guysborough and Cape Breton counties.
Some of the jobs will go to housing authority residents. The work
will involve light maintenance such as cleaning, painting and
minor repairs.

The winter works program begins January, 1997 and runs for a
maximum of 16 weeks. Those interested can pick up applications at
the 18 regional housing authorities, Canada Employment Centres
and Access Nova Scotia Centres throughout Nova Scotia. The
deadline for applications is Jan. 8, 1997.

The program is part of the package Minister of the Economic
Renewal Agency Richie Mann announced last week. In total the
provincial government will help create up to 900 jobs this
winter. This represents approximately $4.6 million in funding
from three levels of government, non-profit organizations and the
private sector.

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contact: Jim Graham  902-424-3224

trp                      Dec. 11, 1996 - 2:30 p.m.