The Government of Canada helps Montréal youth prepare for jobs
MONTREAL, Sept. 10 /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 Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Montréal region, 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 Paradis. "By supporting this project, we are helping Montréal youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential."
The Groupe communautaire L'Itinéraire will receive $99,950 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Cuisiner son avenir project, which will help eight youth facing employment barriers develop life and job skills to ease their transition to work or return to school.
Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school.
"The fundamental idea behind the Cuisiner son avenir project is to help participants develop healthy eating habits by learning the nutritional and market value of food," said Mr. Serge Lareault, Director General of the Groupe communautaire L'Itinéraire. "Their work will also benefit the community, as the meals they prepare will then be distributed to individuals in need."
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.
This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
backgrounder
The Groupe communautaire L'Itinéraire is a non-profit organization that develops social economics projects with the intent of improving the living conditions of people who are unemployed or facing difficulties, such as those who are homeless or struggling with addictions. Cuisiner son avenir is a culinary project through which participants learn the basics of cooking and healthy eating. Participants will also attend life and employability skills workshops to better develop their social skills, as well as gain technical knowledge.
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 persons 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:
(media only):
Michelle Bakos | Media Relations Office |
Press Secretary | Human Resources and Skills |
Office of Minister Finley | Development Canada |
819-994-2482 | 819-994-5559 |
Share this article