LONGUEUIL, QUEBEC, February 27, 2009-The Government of Canada is supporting a local employment project that will help Longueuil youth who have difficulty finding and keeping jobs, the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, announced today.
"In today's environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills needed to participate and succeed in the job market," said Minister Finley. "By working with our community partners to support this project, we are helping at-risk young Canadians gain the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential."
Macadam Sud will receive $107,660 in federal funding through the Government of Canada's Skills Link Program. Through the organization's Focus sur ma ville project, nine youth participants will be given an opportunity to develop the necessary skills required to help them gain full-time employment or pursue further education.
Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada's strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The Government underscored this commitment last month when it introduced Canada's Economic Action Plan, a key component of which is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development.
The Skills Link program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, call 1 800 O-Canada, go on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca or visit your local Service Canada Centre.
A backgrounder is attached.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Pascal Doucet
Medias Relations Coordinator for Quebec Region
514-982-2384, ext. 2209
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Between October 6, 2008, and March 27, 2009, this project will provide nine youth facing employment barriers with an opportunity to gain employment skills. Through developmental workshops, participants will acquire employment and communication skills, as well as self-esteem and self-confidence. The selected participants will be youth aged 16 to 30 with low levels of education who are unemployed and not currently receiving Employment Insurance benefits.
Macadam Sud is a non-profit organization whose mission is to contribute significantly to improving the living conditions of people, mainly aged 12 to 35, by providing information and training that meets their needs, guidance and support in living environments in which they live, and expertise in psychosocial intervention.
As part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, the Skills Link program is one of three Government of Canada programs that help young Canadians facing barriers to employment obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed.
Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas and youth who have dropped out of high school. It offers a client-centred approach based on assessing an individual's specific needs. The program supports youth in developing basic and advanced employment skills. Eligible participants between 15 and 30 years of age-who are not receiving Employment Insurance benefits-are assisted through a coordinated approach, offering longer-term supports and services that can help them find and keep a job.
