1-800-BAIL OUT

Quebec Premier Jean Charest was in Dorval's industrial sector earlier today to announce a $518 million largely federal boost to a previously announced cash flow in various aid programs to troubled private-sector companies in the province.

"We're going to have to pass through this economic tempest together," Charest said during a press conference inside local windows and doors manufacturer Lessard Inc. as workers continued their jobs.

The plan, presented by the Charest team as largely preventative of the kind of massive lay-offs that have made headlines around the world lately, includes measures such as the creation of a specialized telephone line to help companies in trouble, as well as an employee-training initiative to make up for reduced hours.

"This is going to help companies so that they don't lay off their employees," said a Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity spokesperson during a technical briefing before the press conference.

In essence, the provincial government would pick up the slack for employees who find themselves working with reduced hours, by footing the bill for employee training during extra hours of the day.

The sum announced today arrives in addition to a $1 billion fund announced last year to help employment in Quebec, before the extent of the global economic crisis had become clear.

The money will be made available over the course of two years, with $400 million expected from the federal government, $62 million from the private sector, and $55 million from Quebec itself.

The Ministry spokesperson said during the technical briefing that negotiations with the federal government are almost concluded regarding their part of the deal. "But we're not waiting on that money, we're going to start this program right away," he said.

Charest defended the fact that finances for this plan are largely derived from Ottawa. "We've been asking this from the federal government for years," he said, adding employment insurance has always been the federal government's responsibility in Canada.

The plan also includes measures to help out head hunters, and greater potential unemployment pay for anyone who lost their job in a mass lay-off, as well as youths and senior workers.

Lessard Inc's Vice-President Yves Boucher also appeared at the press conference, announcing his company would be taking full advantage of the help offered by the provincial government. "We're going to use the slower work period to train our labour force, make it more competitive," Boucher said.

The telephone help line, 1-888-EMPLOIS (1-888-367-5647), should be available as of April 1.

The plan was designed with a view the economic recession will end by 2011, but Charest said it should last longer in case it lasts longer.

Chronicle, Raffy Boudjikanian