Introduction

This Report is a response to the many diverse requests for information relating to TAGS. It provides a wider range of data and information than was provided in Report I and also includes brief discussions of the topics covered. The discussions are intended to provide information which will assist users in interpreting and using the statistics and information presented.

The document attempts to answer data queries most frequently received by HRDC, the Economics and Statistics Branch and DFO. The types of questions most often asked, and the statistical information and discussions contained in this report are summarized as follows:

1. How many persons are eligible for TAGS and what are their ages, educational attainment and other general characteristics?
2. How much money has been spent by the Federal Government on TAGS and for what purposes have the funds been used?
3. What types of programs have been provided and how many people participated in them?
4. How many people will exit and remain in the TAGS Program during the remaining months of the program?
5. How has the industry performed since the moratorium began and to what extent has its performance impacted TAGS clients?
6. How many TAGS clients have earned income and/or qualified for UI/EI?
7. Have many clients needed Social Assistance (SA) after their eligibility expired?
8. How many TAGS clients have had attachment to the labour market and what program options remain for individuals as the program runs out?
Sections 1.0 to 4.3 provide a general overview of the demographics of TAGS clients and aspects of their eligibility for the program. The components of the Overview provide statistics on program expenditures, the policy interventions which comprise TAGS, the number of those who have exited the program and the eligibility and duration of benefits. Section 5.0 profiles industry dynamics and trends since the closure of the fisheries. It provides background information regarding how and why clients affected by the moratorium have continued to earn income and remain attached to the industry. Sections 6.0 and 7.0 contain statistics regarding the incomes and SA needs of clients ineligible for TAGS and TAGS clients who have exhausted the program. Section 8.0 provides information regarding future program options for TAGS clients. Sections are supported by comprehensive statistical tables in the Appendices. A general overview of events, or milestones, that have taken place since the introduction of the northern cod moratorium is included at the end of the report.

To the extent possible, and relevant, the document provides data for regions of Newfoundland and Labrador. Three geographic units are used to divide the Province into smaller areas in order to provide a detailed overview of the relative regional participation in TAGS. The first major geographic unit employed is the Census Consolidated Subdivision as defined by Statistics Canada. The most micro-level analysis and data are provided for these areas. Information and data are also provided for HRCC areas. Also, because much analysis and discussion of issues in Newfoundland and Labrador is taking place within the context of the recently established Economic Zones, the data have also been formatted to provide similar information for each of the 20 Zones.