Mr. Chair, I am very much aware that the major challenge facing the industry is preserving jobs. Today's announcement is specifically intended to help the industry keep jobs in Canada.
Without going into detail on the situation in Huntingdon, which the Bloc Québécois is using to get its point of view across, hon. members need to understand that somewhere in excess of 200 employers across Canada are delighted with this announcement. I have been working with representatives of both sectors for some time. Today's announcement reflects what they were asking us for and what was contained in the report of the Standing Committee on Finance.
I would, however, like to explain why I announced the two pilot projects. One of these is, in fact, in my riding of Ahuntsic, and the other in Laval. We want to demonstrate once again that over $300,000 has been injected into an existing program designed to find new ways of retraining workers who lose their jobs.
While the industry is becoming more and more high tech, the older workers are not getting the opportunity of new training, for a variety of reasons. Through two NGOs we are helping them find new jobs. Through this type of assistance we are able to help workers in the industry stay employed, and as well, through Emplois Québec and our provincial government counterparts, to ensure that those who do lose their jobs can train for others.
I want to point out that there are other reasons as well. As I have heard from entrepreneurs, the more our dollar rises, the more jobs are at risk. Businesses are less able to be competitive. This announcement provides them with the tools to become more competitive. We do not have total control over the value of the dollar. This is bad in one way and good in another. That said, a variety of tools need to be found for entrepreneurs and for workers, and the various types of worker need to be taken into consideration.
As hon. members have heard, POWA is a program I am in favour of. I have indicated my support of this to the minister and will continue to let him know that more funding and new projects are needed. I feel, however, that the two projects announced today will help some of these men and women.