CALEDONIA, NOVA SCOTIA, November 6, 2009—A recent post-secondary graduate will have the opportunity to enhance and develop his or her employability skills through support from the Government of Canada. Mr. Greg Kerr, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Veterans Affairs and Member of Parliament for West Nova, and Mr. Gerald Keddy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and Member of Parliament for South Shore–St. Margaret’s, 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 have the skills they need to succeed in the job market,” said Mr. Kerr. “Our government is proud to support projects that offer young people the opportunity to develop skills and gain the experience that will help them reach their full potential.”
The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute will receive $14,189 for its Aquatic Health Researcher project through the Career Focus program of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. This funding will help the Institute offer a recent post-secondary graduate a 26-week work experience placement, enabling this individual to use the skills he or she learned in school in order to gain permanent employment.
“We’re pleased to provide work placements like this one to young graduates to attract them to live and work in rural communities like North Queens, and to mentor them through the transition between school and career,” said Ms. Amanda Lavers, Executive Director of the Institute. “Our charitable organization is working hard to make the environment a priority among people of all ages, and this is another step in the right direction.”
The federal government is working with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders to make sure that Canadians get the training, skills and opportunities they need to participate in the workforce and contribute to the quality of life in their communities.
“The Government of Canada is helping create more and better opportunities for young Canadians through skills development,” said Mr. Keddy. “By supporting projects like this one, we are helping recent post-secondary graduates apply the skills sets they acquired during their education.”
The Career Focus program 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, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The Career Focus 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 www.servicecanada.gc.ca or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.
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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
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
The Mersey Tobeatic Research Institute is a non-profit co-operative with a mandate to advance collaborative research, monitoring and management that promotes sustainable use of natural resources in southwestern Nova Scotia. Between October 13, 2009, and April 12, 2010, the Institute will provide career‑related work experience to a recent post-secondary graduate, helping this individual expand his or her educational skills in order to gain permanent employment. The project activities will include culvert surveying and data collection, field equipment preparation, as well as the research and planning of community workshops about aquatic ecosystems.
Career Focus is one of three programs under the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy that help young Canadians get the information, skills and work experience they need to make a successful transition to the workplace. By linking highly skilled, post-secondary youth with potential employers who can provide them with career-related work experiences, Career Focus helpsyoung Canadians acquire advanced employment skills and facilitates their transition into the rapidly changing labour market. The other two programs under the Strategy are Skills Link and Summer Work Experience. More information is available on the following Web site: www.servicecanada.gc.ca/yep/newprog/yesprograms.shtml.
