Government of Canada helps newcomers and provides skills training and job opportunities for young Canadians in Surrey-Newton

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

News release

June 8, 2018                    Surrey-Newton, British Columbia                   Employment and Social Development Canada

Today, Sukh Dhaliwal, Member of Parliament for Surrey—Newton, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced over $3.4 million in federal funding to Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society (PICS) that will help young Canadians and newcomers gain a foothold in the workforce.

The Government of Canada will provide over $2.6 million for the Technology, Education and Health Sectors: Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Project. The project will provide support services to internationally trained newcomers, ensuring they gain access to training, recertification and career placements.

The Foreign Credential Recognition Program aims to improve the integration of internationally trained newcomers into the workforce. The Program provides funding to and works with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, post‑secondary institutions, sectoral stakeholders and employers, to implement projects that facilitate the assessment and recognition of qualifications acquired in other countries by newcomers. It also works to improve labour market outcomes of skilled newcomers through individual employment supports.

The Progressive Intercultural Community Services Society will also receive over $800,000 from the Government of Canada through the Skills Link program. The funding will support its Social Innovative Youth Employment Program. This project will provide six weeks of in-class employability skills training workshops and up to 16 weeks of paid work placement for youth. These initiatives will assist up to 40 young Canadians overcome barriers to employment and develop the skills they need to find and keep good-quality jobs or return to school.

Skills Link supports projects that help young people who face more barriers to employment than others get employability skills and gain valuable job experience, which, in turn, helps them make a successful transition into the workforce or go back to school. This could include youth who have not completed high school, single parents, Indigenous youth, youth with disabilities, newcomers or youth living in rural or remote areas.

Quotes

“We know that our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate. Supporting youth and newcomers as they transition into the workforce and facilitating processes for newcomers is a key way in which we can grow our economy and strengthen the middle class.”

– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“This funding will make a big difference for newcomers and young people in Surrey-Newton. I am proud to be a part of a government that believes in an inclusive economy, where everyone has a chance at success.”

– Sukh Dhaliwal, Member of Parliament for Surrey—Newton

"We are very excited to launch the PICS Employment for Youth Through Social Innovation Program that is funded by the Federal Government.  This unique program will assist youth to overcome barriers to employment by providing six weeks of paid classroom training and sixteen weeks of paid work experience, thereby improving the employability of participating youth."

– Satbir Cheema, Chief Executive Officer - Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS) Society

Quick facts

  • Canada’s future prosperity depends on young people getting the education and work experience they need to succeed. Each year, the Government invests over $330 million in the Youth Employment Strategy to help young people gain the skills and work experience they need to find and maintain good employment.

  • Through Budget 2018, the Government announced an additional investment of $448.5 million over five years, starting in 2018–19, to the Youth Employment Strategy. Budget 2017 invested an additional $395.5 million over three years. Combined with Budget 2016 measures, these investments will help:

    • more than 33,000 vulnerable youth develop the skills they need to find work or go back to school;
    • create 15,000 new green jobs for young Canadians; and
    • provide over 1,600 new employment opportunities for youth in the heritage sector.

  • On average, and compared to their Canadian counterparts, immigrants have lower rates of labour force participation, and significantly higher unemployment rates.

  • Budget 2017 announced the targeted employment strategy to help Canadian newcomers get their credentials recognized more quickly so they can find jobs that suit their skills and experience.

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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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