BOLTON, ON, July 24, 2017 /CNW/ - When Canada's young people get the training and experience they need to be able to find and keep good jobs, the middle class grows and the economy thrives.
Today, Rodger Cuzner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced that the Government of Canada will provide funding to help 128 young people who need it most overcome barriers to getting a job or returning to school. Caledon Community Services' LIFE for Youth project will receive close to $1.5 million from the Government.
Through the LIFE for Youth project, youth will attend workshops that are tailored to their needs. These include sessions on job searching and networking, time management, communication skills, conflict resolution, stress management and health and safety certification. They will also get valuable work experience in sectors like retail, food services, construction and manufacturing.
Mr. Cuzner made the announcement at Caledon Community Services, accompanied by Francesco Sorbara, Member of Parliament for Vaughan–Woodbridge.
Quotes
"Our government is firmly focused on giving everyone a real and fair chance at success. By investing in young people to give them a strong start in their working lives, we're making a real difference in this community."
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
"The LIFE for Youth project will give Bolton's young people the chance to develop their skills and gain work experience. Setting youth up for success is part of our government's plan to create long-term economic growth."
– Rodger Cuzner, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
"We're grateful for this multi-year investment that the Government of Canada is making in our community's youth. LIFE for Youth has a tremendous track record, largely due to the time and attention given to these young people by Caledon Community Services staff and local employers. We're all working towards the same thing—a bright future in today's labour market for youth to overcome barriers through expert training and coaching. "
– Monty Laskin, CEO Caledon Community Services
Quick Fact
- Each year the Government invests more than $330 million in the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) to help young people gain the skills, abilities and work experience they need to find and maintain good employment.
- Total funding for YES was increased by $278 million in 2016–17, representing the largest investment since its launch.
- Budget 2017 is investing an additional $395.5 million over three years for the YES, starting in 2017–18.
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Youth Employment Strategy
The Youth Employment Strategy (YES) is the Government of Canada's commitment to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace. YES helps youth between the ages of 15 and 30 get the information and gain the skills, job experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition to the workforce. YES includes Skills Link, Career Focus and Summer Work Experience and is delivered by 11 federal departments.
- Summer Work Experience provides wage subsidies to employers to create summer employment for secondary and post-secondary students. The Summer Work Experience program includes Canada Summer Jobs.
- Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment—including single parents, youth with disabilities, Indigenous youth, young newcomers and youth in rural and remote areas—to develop employability skills and gain the experience they need to find a job or return to school.
- Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates transition to the labour market through paid internships. It helps provide youth with the information and experience they need to make informed career decisions, find a job or pursue advanced studies.
Each year, the Government invests more than $330 million through YES to help young people gain the skills and experience they need to find and keep good jobs.
Budget 2016 provided $165.4 million in 2016–17 for YES to create new green jobs for youth, increase the number of youth who access the Skills Link program and support employment opportunities in the heritage sector. In 2016, the Government of Canada nearly doubled the Canada Summer Jobs program, creating tens of thousands of additional jobs for young people each year.
To further expand employment opportunities for young Canadians, Budget 2017 proposes to provide an additional $395.5 million over three years, starting in 2017–18 for YES.
The 2016 and 2017 investments will help more than 33,000 vulnerable youth develop the skills they need to find work or go back to school; create 15,000 new green jobs for young Canadians; and provide over 1,600 new employment opportunities for youth in the heritage sector.
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
Matt Pascuzzo, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, [email protected], 819-654-5613; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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