No taxpayer money spent on Sears call centres in New Brunswick yet

No New Brunswick taxpayer money has been spent on the two new Sears call centres in the province at least not yet.

Last January, the government announced it would provide up to $8.7 million to help Sears open call centres in Saint John and Edmundston, which were expected to create 350 jobs and 180 jobs respectively.

On Tuesday, Sears Canada announced it plans to seek court approval to liquidate all of its remaining stores and assets, which will no doubt mean the end of thecalls centresas well.

"I can confirm that no money has been transferred from the New Brunswick government to Sears Canada," company spokesperson Joel Shaffersaid in an emailto CBC News on Wednesday.

But if or when any government money will be paid, either directly to Sears or indirectly,is less than clear.

• Sears liquidation could put over 200 New Brunswickers out of work
• Sears Canada wants court's permission to liquidate all remaining stores

Opportunities New Brunswick was expected to contribute the bulk of the funding$6.5 million through a combination of payroll rebates and loans.

More than 160 people work at theEdmundstoncall centre, whichopened in January. The Saint John centre opened in April and employs more than 200.

Todate, no funds have been disbursed because no claim has been received.- Bruce Macfarlane, Regional Development Corporation

On Tuesday, Opportunities New Brunswick Minister FrancineLandry clearly said, "Opportunities NB has not advanced any government funds to Sears Canada and has no plans to advance any funds to the company."

But more than $1.3 million was to come from the Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour through the One Job Pledge initiative.

The wage incentive program offers employers $10 per hour when they hire a recent post-secondary graduate in a job related to his or her field of study.

"The money which was committed through the One Job Pledge has not been dispersed," said government spokesperson Bruce Macfarlane.

The program operates through reimbursement, however, according to the description on the government's website.

"Participating employers will pay the employees hired under this program and will subsequently submit wage claim forms to the department for reimbursement," the website states.

Macfarlane could not say what would happen if Sears submitted a claim, and Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labourofficials could not immediately be reached for comment.

Similarly, the Regional Development Corporation was to contribute $850,000. That funding "had been earmarked for leasehold improvements to the service centre in Edmundston through Opportunities New Brunswick," said Macfarlane.

"Our deal is with ONB, not Sears," he said. "We were never to give Sears any money."

"To date, no funds have been disbursed because no claim has been received."

Again, it's unclear what would happen if a claim is submitted.

"We'll have to review it," Macfarlanesaid. "But as of today, we don't have a claim. We might never get a claim."

The government had estimatedthe combined 530jobs expected to be created at the two centreswouldincrease the provincial GDP by $26.3 million annually.

If Sears receives court approvalto liquidate its remaining stores, Shaffertold CBC News, it's fair to assume the two call centres will also be dead.

More than 200 people in New Brunswick will be out of a job if Sears receives approval to liquidate the rest of its stores across the country.

There arelarge stores in Moncton and Fredericton, which employ 111 and 94 people respectively, and smaller "hometown stores" in Campbellton, Tracadie, Shippagan and Caraquet.

Sears recently closed its stores in Saint John andBathurst.

The company has about 130 outlets and 12,000 employees nation-wide.