NB: Government backs Professional Quality Assurance Ltd.

[FREDERICTON, NB] - The provincial government is supporting the efforts of Professional Quality Assurance Ltd. (PQA) to create 300 jobs in addition to its current workforce of 91 employees in Fredericton and Moncton. Premier Shawn Graham made the announcement yesterday. He was joined by acting Business New Brunswick Minister Jack Keir; PQA President Keith McIntosh; Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Donald Arseneault; and Fredericton-Silverwood MLA Rick Miles.

The provincial government is supporting the efforts of Professional Quality Assurance Ltd. (PQA) to create 300 jobs in addition to its current workforce of 91 employees in Fredericton and Moncton. Premier Shawn Graham made the announcement, joined by acting Business New Brunswick Minister Jack Keir; PQA President Keith McIntosh; Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault; and Fredericton-Silverwood MLA Rick Miles. From left: Fredericton Deputy Mayor Bruce Grandy; Fredericton Mayor Brad Woodside; McIntosh; Education Minister Kelly Lamrock; Graham; Arseneault; Keir; and Miles. Photo contributed.

“We are very pleased to see PQA make this clear commitment and investment in the people of New Brunswick,” said Graham. “We know that investing in opportunities for people to earn a steady paycheque is fundamental to building a self-sufficient New Brunswick, and we know that good, solid, well-paying jobs give people the confidence they need to invest in themselves and their communities.”

The assistance to PQA will average $7,544 for each of the 300 full-time, permanent positions created during the next three years, and will help pay for training, equipment and expansion. The agreement is the result of government’s ongoing efforts to form partnerships with successful New Brunswick companies looking to expand and maintain jobs in the province.

“I am very proud to see this successful New Brunswick company grow and prosper in our province, especially in these difficult economic times,” said Keir. “This company’s continued growth is proof that New Brunswick is the place to be for business success. Our government has made economic development one of its top priorities, and supporting this type of business demonstrates our commitment to the information, communications and technology industry.”

McIntosh said that he appreciates the provincial government’s confidence in his growing company. “This expansion is allowing us to build on our existing reputation for excellence, with our customers here and around the world,” he said. “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to hire more New Brunswickers, whose creativity, skills and superior work ethic have helped us build this successful company.”

PQA was founded in 1997, and offers software and content-quality assurance, optimization and learning solutions to clients throughout North America and Europe. Its head office is in Fredericton, with satellite offices in Moncton and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia.