Provincial-Territorial Meeting of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers and Ministers responsible for Social Services

La Malbaie, August 22, 2004 -- Quebec Minister of Employment, Social Solidarity and Family Welfare, Claude Béchard invited his colleagues, provincial and territorial Labour Market and Social Services Ministers to Quebec for a special meeting: - Labour Market in Tune with Families. Assisted by distinguished speakers from the public and private sectors and the academic community, the ministers discussed work/family balance and the initiatives that could be taken to promote it.

Mr. Béchard addressed the principal challenge facing the labour market in the years ahead. "In view of demographic change, provincial and territorial governments will need to keep as many people as possible active in the labour market while also addressing families’ concerns about their quality of life. To meet this challenge, various initiatives are necessary to promote and support families."

At the conclusion of the conference and in the spirit of the Council of the Federation, provincial/territorial Ministers responsible for Social Services and Ministers for Labour Market committed to discussing next steps in the process with their respective colleagues.

The Hon. Jamie Muir, Nova Scotia’s Education Minister and Provincial chair of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers and the Hon. Chester Gillan, PEI Minister of Health and Social Services and Provincial chair of Forum of the Ministers responsible for Social Services expressed their appreciation to Minister Béchard for the opportunity to discuss ways to promote family/life balance.

- 30 -

Source:

Pierre Choquette
Press Attaché
Minister’s Office, Employment, Social Solidarity and Family Welfare