November 22, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SASKATOON, Saskatchewan — Maurice Vellacott, Member of Parliament for Saskatoon–Wanuskewin, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding for the Saskatoon Open Door Society under the Skills Link program, to help youth in Saskatchewan find and keep secure jobs.
“The Government of Canada is proud to support community organizations that help young people increase their skills and realize their potential as productive members of the work force,” said Mr. Vellacott. “Today’s announcement reflects our commitment to helping Canadian newcomers and youth who face barriers to employment develop the skills, knowledge, and work experience they need to build better and stronger futures.”
The Saskatoon Open Door Society’s Immigrant Youth Job Seekers Project will help youth in the Saskatoon area develop the life and job skills they need to enter the labour force or return to school. Today’s $49,312 investment by the Government of Canada will help participants in the program become more employable through a combination of on-the-job experience and workshops on honing communications and problem-solving skills, setting goals, planning a career, and understanding the job market.
The Government of Canada is funding this project through Skills Link, one of Canada’s youth employment programs. The program involves employers, community organizations, and other levels of government in ensuring that young people have the opportunity to develop their skills and become contributing members of their communities.
The federal government has taken steps to ensure that newcomers to Canada can more fully participate in the labour market. The Foreign Credentials Referral Office has been created to help internationally trained individuals find the information and access the services they need to put their skills to work quickly in Canada, the Right of Permanent Residence Fee has been cut in half, and, in 2006, the Government of Canada welcomed 250,000 more newcomers to the country.
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Backgrounder
Skills Link
The Skills Link program is one of three Government of Canada programs that help young Canadians (aged 15 to 30) obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs, and stay employed. The two other programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.
Skills Link focuses on helping young people who face barriers to employment. These young people include high school drop-outs, single parents, Aboriginal youth, people with disabilities, youth in rural areas, and 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. All three programs provide a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs.
Projects funded under the Skills Link program have been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department’s administration of its grants and contributions programs, and are subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
