One of Saint John’s bigger contact centres is growing.
The TD Insurance contact centre on Rothesay Avenue plans to create 250 jobs over the next seven years because of a partnership with the provincial government.
TD Insurance will expand in #SaintJohn and create up to 250 new jobs over the next seven years by partnering with the province. pic.twitter.com/MY7GmoIG8E
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) June 11, 2018
We asked the Premier why this is a worthy investment. He says this sector employs 18,000 New Brunswickers and they are pleased to partner with TD Insurance.
“We do so because we recognize that multi-national businesses like TD have options,” Gallant said “so we need to put incentives on table but we recognize the need to ensure that the incentives we put on the table for them to invest and grow here have to be done in a way that we are protecting taxpayers money”.
In order to support the creation of these jobs, TD Insurance is eligible for up to $4.765 million from Opportunities NB, a crown corporation.
Former Premier Frank McKenna speaks about how it all began here at the TD Insurance call centre back in 1994 with 54 jobs. Some of those original hires still work here. pic.twitter.com/r3kVsYLi4V
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) June 11, 2018
Frank McKenna noted the long history of the Saint John contact centre which opened in 1994 with 54 employees some of which still work there. Not including today’s announcement, the centre now employs 754 people.
He gave kudos to the quality of the workforce in Saint John.
“We have just about as perfect a workforce as we could get across North America,” McKenna said, “The people being hired today are being hired on the shoulders of the people that have made this such an outstanding success story”.
Kenn Lalonde presents Evelyn McNulty of Romero House with a cheque for $5000. pic.twitter.com/R47sW1Z2St
— Tamara Steele (@tamarasteele1) June 11, 2018
The company plans to invest $7 million to upgrade its Saint John facilities.
McKenna got a big laugh when he jokingly referred to Mayor Don Darling as “a pain in the a–” commenting on his passion for trying to bring jobs to Saint John.