March 8, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Calgary, Alberta - Myron Thompson, Member of Parliament for Wild Rose, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding for a Skills Link project in Calgary. The funding, totaling $813,000, is intended to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace. The Government of Canada is pleased to work with BGS Career and Corporate Development on this Youth Ventures project.
"Canada's New Government is proud to have contributed to Youth Ventures," said Mr. Thompson. "This centre connects Calgary youth with the programs and services that will help them build their skills, develop their career, and gain work experience."
This project is funded through the Government of Canada's Skills Link program. The Skills Link program helps youth facing barriers to employment acquire the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to participate in the job market.
Through such projects, the Government of Canada demonstrates further its commitment to improving opportunities for youth, which is part of an ongoing effort to build a strong, vibrant Canadian workforce. The Government's approach is to create a country where meaningful, long-term employment opportunities exist and the workforce is trained to meet the requirements of modern businesses.
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Background
The Skills Link program is one of three programs the Government of Canada created to help young Canadians (aged 15 to 30) obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The three programs are Skills Link, Summer Work Experience and Career Focus. Skills Link helps young people who face barriers to employment gain work experience or get a job. These young people include high school dropouts, single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, and youth in rural areas or recent immigrants. Summer Work Experience helps secondary and post-secondary students find summer jobs. Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates develop advanced skills and find careers in their fields. These programs provide a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the May 2006 federal budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its Grants and Contributions programs, and is subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
If you are an employer, organization or youth and would like to learn more about Youth programs and services please visit our Internet site at servicecanada.gc.ca and click on youth, call the Youth Info Line at 1 800 935-5555 or visit any of the local Service Canada Centres across Canada. Service Canada is the Government of Canada's service delivery network that brings together a range of federal services and programs to meet the needs of individual Canadians.
