MAY 25, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Saguenay, Quebec - The Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Labour, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and M.P. for Jonquière–Alma, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced $108,448 in funding for a project to help Saguenay youth become more employable.
"By funding this project, Canada 's New Government is encouraging the workforce of tomorrow to acquire the skills and knowledge required to find employment and keep it in the long term," said Minister Blackburn. "The project I am announcing today meets this objective by providing young people with the tools they need to reduce barriers to their economic mobility and help them take their place in the labour market."
As part of the project, the Association des parents d'ados de Jonquière will give youth the chance to acquire new social and job-related skills through internships with organizations in the Jonquière area. The Association des parents d'ados de Jonquière helps young people with drug addictions or behaviour problems and their parents.
Participants in the project will do internships at the Maison de quartier de Jonquière and the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. These experiences will give the youth a better understanding of how the various services offered by these organizations work, and help them learn about the realities and specific requirements of the labour market. Throughout the project, the young people will also take workshops on the basic skills they need for the workforce, and to develop their independence and employability.
Service Canada supports this project through the Skills Link program, which helps youth facing barriers to employment obtain the knowledge, skills and work experience they need to participate in the job market.
The Skills Link program is one of three programs for youth. The other two are the Summer Work Experience and Career Focus programs. These programs offer a range of activities to meet each participant's needs.
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