QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC, August 31, 2009—Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job-preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s support for a local employment project. Ms. Sylvie Boucher, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women and Member of Parliament for Beauport–Limoilou, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that all Canadians develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the labour market,” said Ms. Boucher. “By supporting this project, we are helping Quebec youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential.”
The Centre résidentiel et communautaire Jacques-Cartier will receive $83,507 in federal Skills Link funding, which will help seven youth facing employment barriers develop life and job skills to ease their transition to work or their return to school.
“It is important to provide spaces for action and experimentation that are tailored for young adults, so that they can become a part of the labour force, act as citizens and improve their quality of life,” said Ms. Nathalie Bouchard, Coordinator of the Centre résidentiel et communautaire Jacques-Cartier. “While participants attend various training workshops focused on skills acquisition and the development of personal and artistic abilities, the project will also allow them to work together to create murals that will beautify the premises of two partner organizations.”
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 high school dropouts.
The federal government is working with the provinces and territories, community organizations and other stakeholders to provide Canadians with the training, skills and opportunities they need to participate in the workforce and contribute to their communities.
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 its commitment to this strategy in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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, visit servicecanada.gc.ca or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.
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This news release is available in alternate formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Founded in 1992, the Centre résidentiel et communautaire Jacques-Cartier is a non-profit organization that helps youth between the ages of 16 and 35 develop skills that will allow them to maximize their full potential and better integrate into society. The organization’s activities encourage artisitic expression and creativity by allowing youth to work together towards a common goal. Between July 13 and December 18, 2009, the organization will help seven youth facing barriers to employment make progress in terms of their integration into both society and the labour market by providing them with work experience in the visual arts.
As part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, the Skills Link program is one of three programs that help young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The other two programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.
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 high school dropouts. 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 support and services that can help them find and keep a job.
