Harper Government helps recent graduates in the Greater Toronto Area get jobs in high-demand fields

TORONTO, Aug. 28, 2013 /CNW/ - The Honourable Joe Oliver, Minister of Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for Eglinton-Lawrence, on behalf of the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), today announced new measures introduced by the Harper Government that will equip young Canadians with skills and work experience needed to get jobs in high-demand fields.

"Our government is committed to creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity all across Canada," said Minister of State Bergen. "Initiatives like this will connect youth with in-demand jobs while ensuring that Canada's economy benefits from the skills and talents of young Canadians. By investing in youth today, we are making sure they are ready to become Canada's future workers and contribute to our long-term prosperity."

"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Minister Oliver. "These new measures will provide youth with the hands-on experience they need to get jobs in high-demand fields and fully contribute to the growth of Canada's economy."

Minister Oliver's announcement is one of a series taking place across the country. The Youth Employment Strategy will help over 1 900 youth with $24 million in projects across the country, equipping them with the hands-on experience they need to start their careers in high-demand areas such as the skilled trades, tourism, and health sciences, while also helping employers address acute skilled labour shortages.

The Career Foundation is benefiting from over $906,000 from the Career Focus program through Economic Action Plan 2012 to offer paid internships to help recent graduates get hands-on experience. Approximately, 64 youth will benefit from this project funding. Career Focus is part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES).

The participants will gain valuable work experience and develop useful skills for high-demand jobs through paid internships in the information systems and computer programming. Internships will take place with private sector employers in the Greater Toronto Area, Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, and Peel regions of Ontario.

"The Career Focus program has opened doors for young people who are now working, growing and developing and making positive contributions," said Kristin Morrison, Director of Operations, The Career Foundation.  "On behalf of these youth, The Career Foundation and our community, we want to thank the Government of Canada for funding a project that is making such a difference."

Youth employment programs are part of the Government of Canada's strategy to connect Canadians with available jobs. Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes new measures to equip Canadians with the skills and training they need to fill skills shortages and succeed in the Canadian labour market. These new measures include the Canada Job Grant, which will invest in skills training for unemployed and underemployed Canadians, better ensuring they are qualified to fill the high-quality, well-paying jobs available. Economic Action Plan 2013 is also creating opportunities for apprentices and providing support to under-represented groups such as Canadians with disabilities, Aboriginal people, newcomers and youth.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.

The Government of Canada is helping youth plan their careers, learn new skills and find jobs through enhanced online services available at youth.gc.ca.

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Backgrounder

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The Youth Employment Strategy is the Government of Canada's commitment to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace.

With annual funding of approximately $300 million, YES helps youth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop employment skills, find jobs and stay employed. YES includes the Skills Link and Career Focus programs and the Canada Summer Jobs initiative, which creates thousands of job opportunities for students every summer. Since 2006, the Youth Employment Strategy has helped more than 555 000 young people upgrade their skills, to the benefit of the Canadian economy.

Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment—including youth who are single parents, youth with disabilities, young newcomers and youth in rural and remote areas—to develop the skills and gain the experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school. Skills Link is receiving over $4.9 million through this Economic Action Plan initiative to connect youth with in-demand jobs. Since 2006, the Skills Link initiative has helped over 179 000 youth find better employment or return to school for skills upgrading.

Career Focus provides funding to employers to hire young post-secondary graduates to give them career-related work experience and help them acquire skills to transition into the job market. Career Focus is receiving over $19 million through this Economic Action Plan initiative to connect youth with in-demand jobs. Since 2006, the Career Focus initiative has helped over 26 000 post-secondary students acquire crucial skills to help them transition into the labour market.

Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year.

To learn more about Canada's Youth Employment Strategy and other youth employment initiatives, visit youth.gc.ca. 

SOURCE: Canada's Economic Action Plan

Johanna Quinney
Office of the Minister of State
(Social Development)
613-697-4449

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
[email protected]

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This news release is available online at: actionplan.gc.ca.