Government of Canada provides opportunities for youth in Edmonton
News Release
Youth facing barriers to employment benefit from job skills training and employment opportunities
September 14, 2017 Edmonton, AB Employment and Social Development Canada
Building a strong middle class means giving Canada’s youth the tools they need to find and keep good jobs.
Today, the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Mill Woods and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced a new project that will give youth in Edmonton job skills training and hands-on work experience. Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre, joined Minister Sohi in making the announcement.
Up to 84 recent immigrant youth will participate in the project, which will be delivered by the Africa Centre thanks to more than $1.3 million in Government of Canada funding through the Skills Link program. The youth will develop skills to help them find and keep jobs, such as job search techniques and interview preparation, and will receive tips from guest speakers. They wil also gain valuable work experience in such fields as accommodations, food services and tourism, business and the trades.
Skills Link supports projects that help young people who face more barriers to employment than others develop basic employability skills and gain valuable job experience, which, in turn, assists them in making a successful transition into the workforce or to return to school. These youth could include those who have not completed high school, single parents, Indigenous youth, young persons with disabilities, youth living in rural or remote areas or newcomers.
Quotes
“We know that our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate. Supporting youth as they transition into the workforce is a key way in which we can grow our economy and strengthen the middle class.Youth in Edmonton will benefit tremendously from the opportunity to develop their skills and gain valuable workplace experience.”
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
“Developing Canada’s youth is a priority. The Africa Centre’s project is a concrete example of what we can achieve for youth – especially newcomers --by working in partnership with organizations across the country. Projects like this one can help put regular paycheques into the reach of those who need them most. But more than that, they give young Canadians the chance to change their future.”
– The Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Mill Woods and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities
"I'm proud to see the success of the Africa Centre’s projects in helping young people who are new to our country get the training they need to become our next generation of successful Canadians.”
– Randy Boissonnault, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre
“Huge gaps in K-12 education, pre-migration trauma, or experiences with a similar life impact mean that many African refugees finishing a traditional youth employment program may not be ready to succeed in the labour market. “Boost” offers them a sense of purpose and renewed hope for success in Canada.”
– Tesfaye Ayalew,Executive Director, Africa Centre
Quick Facts
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Skills Link is one of three program streams under the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES). Each year, the Government invests more than $330 million in YES to help support young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 to get the information, skills, job experience and abilities they need to find and maintain good employment.
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Total funding for YES was increased by $278 million in 2016–17, representing the largest investment since its launch.
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Budget 2017 is investing an additional $395.5 million over three years for YES, starting in 2017–18.
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Combined with Budget 2016 measures, these investments will help:
o more than 33,000 vulnerable youth develop the skills they need to find work or go back to school;
o create 15,000 new green jobs for young Canadians; and
o provide over 1,600 new employment opportunities for youth in the heritage sector.
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Contacts
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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