About HRSDC | Our Offices | Programs & Services | A-Z Index January 6, 2005 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 05-01 TORONTO, ONTARIO - The Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced funding for 343 projects targeted to help more than 5,700 young Canadians. This funding, totaling more than $39 million, is intended to help young Canadians make a successful transition to the workplace. "Investments in youth pay both short- and long-term benefits for all Canadians," said Minister Volpe. "Helping young Canadians to prepare for the world of work through skills development, work experience and labour market information is one of the best ways to invest Canada's financial resources." The Government of Canada is funding 308 of these 343 projects through the Youth Employment Strategy, which offers three programs: Skills Link, Summer Work Experience and Career Focus. These programs provide flexibility to choose from a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs. The Skills Link program helps youth facing barriers to employment to acquire the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to participate in the job market. The Career Focus program provides financial support to Canadian employers and organizations to provide post-secondary graduates with career-related work experience in Canada and abroad. This helps the graduates to acquire advanced employment skills and improves their chances of developing careers in their fields. The remaining 35 projects are being funded through Youth Awareness activities, which are sponsored by employers, employer associations and organizations. These activities complement the Youth Employment Strategy by responding to the changing needs of the labour market and heightening the awareness of youth as the work force of the future. Today's announcement is linked to Canada's Workplace Skills Strategy, aimed at helping Canadians acquire the skills needed for meaningful and productive jobs. The Government of Canada recognizes that Canada's future competitiveness depends on a highly skilled work force and on high-performance workplaces that focus on skills development. It will work with business, unions, other levels of government, sector councils and workers to ensure that all Canadians have the opportunity to develop their skills and succeed, and employers' needs are met. The federal government's commitment to improving opportunities for youth is part of an ongoing effort to build a strong, vibrant Canada for the 21st century. The Government's strategy is to create a Canada where meaningful, long-term employment opportunities exist and the work force is trained to meet the requirements of modern businesses. Funding for these projects was provided for in the 2004 federal Budget. These projects have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grant and contribution programs, and are subject to review under the Financial Administration Act. For more information, see attached backgrounder - 30 - For more information: Stephen Heckbert Director of Communications Office of the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development (819) 994-2482 Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (819) 994-5559 For more information on programs under the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, call the Youth Info Line at 1 800 935-5555, or visit our Web site at youth.gc.ca
