The Government of Canada supports skills training and job opportunities for youth in Winnipeg Français
WINNIPEG, July 29, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development) and Member of Parliament for Portage-Lisgar, today met with youth and employers who are part of a skills and work experience project that has received a significant investment from the Harper government.
New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families is receiving more than $216,000 from the Skills Link program to help 32 young Canadians in Winnipeg. This one-year project, which began in May 2014, consists of four sessions, with eight participants per session. Participants will benefit from four weeks of skills workshops on topics such as job search and interview skills, followed by eight weeks of work experience with local employers, matched to their needs and skills.
The goal is for the youth to either be hired by the employers at the end of their work placements or return to school. The project is in its first session. Current participants have completed the skills workshops and are in their work placements.
As Canada is facing skills shortages, the Government is investing in youth employment, skills and apprenticeship programs to help connect young Canadians with available jobs.
Quick Facts
- As part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, Skills Link has helped over 179,000 youth since 2006.
- The Government of Canada is helping Canadian youth get the skills employers are looking for with the Canada Job Grant and the Apprenticeship Incentive and Completion Grants. The Government also offers tax credits, such as the tuition, education and textbook tax credits, tradesperson's tools deduction, and the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.
- Economic Action Plan 2014 is introducing the Canada Apprentice Loan by expanding the Canada Student Loans program to provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year. At least 26,000 apprentices are expected to apply annually.
Quotes
"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. That includes helping to equip young Canadians with the right education, skills and training they need to find good jobs. Today's announcement will help youth in Winnipeg get the skills needed to obtain jobs in today's economy."
- The Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development)
"New Directions is very appreciative of the Government of Canada's support. The funding will go a long way in helping youth acquire skills and experience required to gain meaningful employment."
- Dr. Jennifer Frain, Chief Executive Officer, New Directions for Children, Youth, Adults and Families, Inc.
Associated Links
Services for Youth
Economic Action Plan
Backgrounder
The Youth Employment Strategy (YES) is the Government of Canada's commitment to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace. With annual funding of approximately $330 million, 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 workplace. 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.
Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment—including 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 has helped over 179,000 youth since 2006.
Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates transition to the labour market through paid internships and helps to provide youth with the information and experience they need to make informed career decisions, find a job and/or pursue advanced studies. Since 2006, the Career Focus initiative has helped over 26,000 youth acquire skills needed to join the job 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. Since it began in 2007, Canada Summer Jobs has helped over 260,000 students.
Through Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government of Canada is investing $40 million towards supporting up to 3,000 internships in high-demand fields and $15 million annually towards supporting up to 1,000 internships in small- and medium-sized enterprises under the Youth Employment Strategy.
In addition, Economic Action Plan 2013 introduced new measures to equip Canadians with the skills and training they need to fill skills shortages and succeed in the Canadian labour market. These 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 that are available.
The Government of Canada also provides a range of support—including Canada Student Loans, Canada Student Grants, the Canada Learning Bond and the Canada Education Savings Grant—to help young Canadians pursue and save for their post-secondary education, so that they can acquire the skills and training they need to succeed in the job market and in the future economy.
SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
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