The Government of Canada helps Montréal youth prepare for jobs
MONTREAL, Sept. 23 /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 Montréal, 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."
Emploi Jeunesse will receive over $170,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its project entitled La nouvelle génération, which will help 24 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 main idea behind La nouvelle génération is to pair youth from cultural communities with Quebecois youth to generate an exchange that will benefit both groups and create a network of professional and social contacts," said Ms. Martine Bouchard, Director General, Emploi Jeunesse. "Over the course of the 36-week project, youth will also develop skills such as teamwork and functional autonomy, which they will make good use of in their future careers."
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
Founded in 1982, Emploi Jeunesse helps young adults facing various issues enter the job market. Over the years, the organization has developed solid expertise in the field of social and professional integration. From August 23, 2010, to July 1, 2011, participants in the organization's project entitled La nouvelle génération will organize networking activities with employers, and will take part in workshops that will assist them in developing their functional autonomy, as well as career planning sessions. These activities will help them acquire skills that will be transferrable to work or school.
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 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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