Starting the summer with new jobs and opportunities across Canada

News Release

June 20, 2016          Gatineau, Quebec          Employment and Social Development Canada

The Government of Canada is releasing details about new projects and programs creating jobs and opportunities in every province and territory. This includes 24 new projects that will help under-represented Canadians improve their employability skills. It also includes a provincial and territorial overview of the successful Canada Summer Jobs program that is funding 77,000 job positions across Canada. The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, made the announcement today.

Nearly 700 youth and over 400 people with disabilities will broaden their horizons as they obtain new job skills and gain real-life work experience through projects led by organizations in western, central and eastern Canada. Examples of projects include:

• The city of Toronto is helping young people prepare for future careers through its project. Through group workshops, up to 260 participants will learn job search and interview skills. The first of their two work experience opportunities will involve painting the facilities of non-profit organizations in their community. Following this, participants will be paired with private sector jobs in areas such as administration, maintenance, mechanics, sales and gardening.  
• Saint Mary’s University in Nova Scotia will lead two separate projects. The first will help up to 45 post-secondary graduates living in rural Nova Scotia get work experience in their field of study. Job opportunities will focus on high-demand sectors including the sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and skilled trades. The second will help up to 20 youth who are having difficulty finding a job. Participants will attend skills enhancement activities to learn about team building, communication and leadership skills. They will also obtain certification in First Aid and Workplace Hazardous Materials Information Systems. To complete the project, the youth will get front-line work experience in the retail and food industry.
• Up to 90 people with disabilities, who are seeking employment in London or Strathroy, will participate in a project that will help them get and keep a job. Participants will attend pre-employment workshops to strengthen communication skills, develop resumés, perform job searches and practice interview skills. Individual counselling will also be available to help with career decisions, clarifying physical limitations and determining workplace accommodations. Each person will also get hands-on work experience in one of the following areas: service industry, retail, food services, administration or manufacturing.

Minister Mihychuk released detailed information about the Canada Summer Jobs program as well today. The new data confirms more organizations than ever before are participating in the program this year. It also demonstrates a record number of job positions approved for funding in every province and territory.

Quote

“I am always so impressed with the variety of projects we fund because it demonstrates how well organizations are in touch with their communities and understand the people they serve. Our government knows that this approach works, and we are eager to support partnerships with those who can get things done at the ground level. Helping Canadians who face barriers to employment gives hope for a brighter future to individuals, while also helping to strengthen and grow Canada’s middle class.”
– The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

Quick Facts

• More than $9.3 million in funding was provided for these projects through the following programs: Skills Link; Career Focus; and Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
  • A total of 15 projects will support programs and services that provide youth with job skills workshops, hands‑on experience and career development.
  • Nine projects will help people with disabilities prepare for the workforce or self-employment through job skills workshops and hands-on experience.
• Budget 2016 includes $339 million in new funding for the Canada Summer Jobs program over three years, beginning this summer.
• This is the first new funding for the Canada Summer Jobs program since 2009.
• The Canada Summer Jobs program is funding 77,000 job positions this year, more than double the number created last year.
• Budget 2016 also includes $165 million in new funding for the Youth Employment Strategy to help young people gain the skills, abilities and experience they need to find and maintain good employment.

Associated Links

Skills Link

Career Focus 

Canada Summer Jobs

Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

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Contacts

John O’Leary
Director of Communications
Office of the Hon. MaryAnn Mihychuk, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
819-654-5611

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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Backgrounder

Youth

Each year, the Government invests more than $330 million through its Youth Employment Strategy to help young Canadians gain the skills and work experience they need to start their careers and contribute to the economy.

Budget 2016 builds on the $330 million and has announced an additional $165.4 million in 2016–2017 to:

• create new green jobs for youth;
• increase the number of youth who access the Skills Link program, which helps young Canadians overcome barriers to employment; and
• support employment opportunities in the heritage sector under the Young Canada Works program.

Since 2005, over 772,000 young Canadians have received the skills upgrading they need to enter the labour market through the Government of Canada’s youth employment programs. These programs help youth between the ages of 15 and 30 get the information and gain the skills and work experience they need to succeed in the workplace.

Earlier this year, the Government announced an additional $339 million for the Canada Summer Jobs program, to be delivered over three years, starting in 2016–2017.

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 return to school. Skills Link has helped over 230,000 youth since 2005.

Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates transition to the labour market through paid internships and helps provide youth with the information and experience they need to make informed career decisions, find a job and/or pursue advanced studies. The Career Focus initiative has helped over 37,000 youth acquire skills needed to join the job market since 2005.

Summer Work Experience provides wage subsidies to employers to create summer employment for secondary and post-secondary students. The Summer Work Experience program includes Canada Summer Jobs. The Canada Summer Jobs program 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 who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year. Since 2005, Summer Work Experience has helped over 505,000 students.

People with disabilities

The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities assists Canadians with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and keep employment, or become self-employed, to help them participate fully in the workforce and increase their independence. The program emphasises work experience for youth with disabilities, that the involvement of both employers and community organizations in in the design and delivery of projects and hands-on work experience. The Government provides $40 million annually to the Opportunities Fund and has helped 40,000 people with disabilities across Canada since 2005.

Alberta

Projects approved for funding in Alberta¸ May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Skills Link and Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

British Columbia

Projects approved for funding in British Columbia, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

 Skills Link

Manitoba 

Projects approved for funding in Manitoba, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

New Brunswick

Projects approved for funding in New Brunswick, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Projects approved for funding in Newfoundland and Labrador, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Northwest Territories

Projects approved for funding in Northwest Territories, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Nova Scotia

Projects approved for funding in Nova Scotia, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Career Focus, Skills Link and Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities

Nunavut

Projects approved for funding in Nunavut, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Ontario

Projects approved for funding in Ontario, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Career Focus, Skills Link and Opportunities Fund for Person with Disabilities

Prince Edward Island

Projects approved for funding in Prince Edward Island, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Career Focus

Quebec

Projects approved for funding in Quebec, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Skills Link

Saskatchewan

Projects approved for funding in Saskatchewan, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

Skills Link

Yukon

Projects approved for funding in Yukon, May 2–31, 2016

Canada Summer Jobs

*A complete list will be released when available.

 

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