The Government of Canada helps Gatineau youth prepare for the labour market
GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada's support for an employment project. The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Member of Parliament for Pontiac, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
"In today's environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market," said Minister Cannon. "By supporting this project, we are helping Gatineau youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential."
Vallée Jeunesse will receive over $95,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its project entitled Cuisine et entretien d'immeuble, which will help eight youth facing barriers to employment gain the skills and experience needed to enter the labour market or the confidence to return to school.
Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young people with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school.
"With this funding, we will help youth facing challenges in the Gatineau region reintegrate society constructively," said Ms. Annie Castonguay, Director General of Vallée Jeunesse. "Youth will attend workshops to develop their functional independence and acquire social and personal skills, and they will also learn and practise job searching techniques that they will use concretely in the near future."
The federal government is working with the provinces and territories, community organizations and other stakeholders to provide Canadians with the training, skills and opportunities they need to get jobs and contribute to their communities.
Through the 2010 "Jobs and Growth Budget," the Government of Canada committed an additional $60 million to the Skills Link and Career Focus programs. This additional one-time investment will enable more young Canadians to gain the experience and skills they need to successfully participate in the labour market while the economy recovers.
Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada's strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The Government underscored its commitment to this strategy in Canada's Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The Skills Link program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1 800 O-Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.
backgrounder
Vallée Jeunesse is a non-profit community organization that works to prevent individuals in the Outaouais region from dropping out of school and society. The organization helps people integrate into school and society through various services, such as shelters and day centres. Participants in the project will attend functional independence and employability workshops on topics such as health, communications and work safety skills. They will also take part in cooking and building maintenance workshops.
As part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, the Skills Link program is one of three programs that help young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The other two programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.
Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young people with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school. It offers a client-centred approach based on assessing an individual's specific needs. The program supports youth in developing basic and advanced employment skills. Eligible participants between 15 and 30 years of age who are not receiving Employment Insurance benefits are assisted through a coordinated approach offering longer-term supports and services that can help them find and keep a job.
For further information:
This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
(media only):
Michelle Bakos Press Secretary Office of Minister Finley 819-994-2482 |
Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada 819-994-5559 |
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