3.0 Highlights of TAGS Interventions

As a result of the moratorium, approximately 40,000 workers in the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec were displaced from traditional fishing activities. With such a large number of people impacted, help was required. This was particularly the case in Newfoundland and Labrador where the largest number of affected people resided (see Section 1.0).

The Atlantic Groundfish Strategy was designed to provide income support as well as opportunities for clients to acquire new skills that could assist them in finding alternative employment. A variety of program interventions were offered to achieve these goals.

Many clients benefited from the programs offered under TAGS. Over 50 percent of those eligible for the program participated in one or more of the interventions. Due to budgetary restrictions, however, the Federal Government was faced with the difficult decision of ending active programming. In July 1996, it was announced that the active programming component would be discontinued and the funds saved would be redirected to provide income support for the longest duration possible (see Section 8.0).

ACCESS TO EI AND HRDC PROGRAMS
EI Reach Back criteria and a relaxation of EI labour market attachment criteria have helped offset the curtailment of active programming (see Section 8.0). Together, these changes make it possible for many TAGS clients to access HRDC programs with greater ease than might otherwise be the case.

The discussions which follow in this Section highlight the interventions provided by TAGS prior to the curtailment of active programming. A brief description with statistics regarding the take-up of these programs is also included. Appendix 2.1 and 2.2 provide more detailed data on the number of clients who participated in various interventions and training.

TRAINING
TAGS provided clients with opportunities to acquire new skills or gain work experience that could aid them in finding alternative employment. Approximately 7,630 clients participated in the training options provided; 33 percent of which was Adult Basic Education. Another 11 percent received training in personal development and 69 percent in skills training. Some clients participated in more than one of these options.

EMPLOYMENT INTERVENTIONS
TAGS offered clients the opportunity to participate in a variety of employment programs which were designed to provide them with incentives to find employment outside of the groundfishery. The programs and the number of persons who participated in them are included in the following:

       
750 clients participated in a Community Opportunities Pool in which clients used their expertise and skills to help with volunteer projects that benefited their communities.
       
480 clients participated in Green Projects which were designed to create long-term employment while helping preserve and enhance the environment.
       
190 clients took part in a Wage Subsidy Agreement. This option provided incentives to employers to hire and train TAGS workers for jobs outside the fishery by subsidizing the wages paid to program participants.
       
130 TAGS clients entered into Employment Bonus agreements with HRDC. The program was designed as an incentive for clients to accept full-time employment outside the fishery. They could receive a bonus of up to $5,000 after accepting full-time employment and forfeiting their TAGS benefits.
       
60 clients participated in a Self-Employment Assistance program. This intervention was designed to provide support to clients who established their own business outside the traditional fishery.
       
150 clients benefited from a Job Opportunities program. It helped individuals acquire training and work experience by providing financial assistance for training costs, wage reimbursements and other specified costs to the employer.
       

MOBILITY
TAGS also offered financial assistance for clients who found employment elsewhere. Aid was provided to help with job search activities, housing expenses and relocation costs once a permanent job was secured. 650 clients received mobility assistance in Newfoundland and Labrador.

EARLY RETIREMENT
Two early retirement programs were designed for TAGS clients in Newfoundland and Labrador. FOWAP is an early retirement program that was designed for plant workers and trawler persons and is jointly administered by HRDC and the Provincial Department of Human Resources and Employment (HRE). The Atlantic Fishers Early Retirement Program (AFERP) was designed for fishers and jointly administered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and HRE. The programs were voluntary for TAGS clients who were between 55 and 64 years of age as of May 15, 1995. It provided a retirement income until their 65th birthday for those wishing to leave the fishery.

810 clients accepted the early retirement package under AFERP or FOWAP. Monthly early retirement benefits were based upon the UI rates that had been used to calculate TAGS benefits. The minimum monthly benefit rate is $630 and the maximum monthly rate is $1,231.

LICENCE RETIREMENT
The Groundfish Licence Retirement Program was administered by the Department of Fisheries and Oceans. It offered fishers monetary compensation for surrendering their groundfish licence and permanently leaving the fishery. The program involved a reverse bidding process where individual fishers submitted a bid for the amount they wished to receive for their licence. Bids were accepted by the Minister based on an assessment and recommendation by an independent board called the Harvesting Adjustment Board. Successful bidders received a lump sum payment for the full amount awarded.

The program consisted of two bidding rounds. Overall, an average amount of $109,000 was awarded in round one and an average of $121,000 in round two. Total expenditures for the program were approximately $45.2 million in Newfoundland and Labrador. A total of 394 fishers retired their licences, of which 360 were TAGS clients.

COUNSELLING
HRDC offered career and other counselling services to TAGS clients to help them assess their employment needs, lifestyle, and education/career goals. More than 10,000 clients participated in this aspect of the program.