Bell Canada dials N.B. for 550 new jobs

Bell Canada and the ICT Group are creating 550 new jobs at call centres in Riverview, Saint John and Miramichi.
The New Brunswick government is spending $4.4 million to train the employees and offset capital costs for the call centres, which will be providing technical assistance to Bell Canada customers.
Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne said the investment is well worth it.
"We have confidence in the companies that are making commitments to our province," Byrne said.
"Obviously, we'd recognize that they have costs associated with setting up operations here, so the financial assistance that we provide will assist them with those costs — which include the infrastructure itself and training costs. And we believe it's a very good investment."
About 300 people have already been hired in Riverview and Saint John, and the remainder will be brought on board by 2010, an ICT spokesperson said.
Brian Fitzpatrick, director of client care for Bell Mobility, said the company was looking for a strategic partner for this project and ICT was a natural fit because it has a solid international record for providing customer care services.
"We also had a desire to set up in Atlantic Canada so it was just a very good match for us," Fitzpatrick said.
The call centres will be responsible for answering calls from Bell's national customers to help them with billing questions, adding features to their accounts and changing rate plans. Fitzpatrick said part of the allure of setting up in New Brunswick is the strength of the available workforce.
"New Brunswick has a very good reputation. We have mobility service throughout New Brunswick," he said. "We have dealers throughout New Brunswick. We have had a great deal of exposure to New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada. We were very impressed by ICT as an exceptional client-care provider as well as the workforce they have in New Brunswick."
The provincial government will provide an $8,000 forgivable loan for each of the 550 jobs created in New Brunswick.