Barrie, Ontario, March 23, 2012—The Government of Canada today announced new funding to support youth in Barrie to help them gain the knowledge they need to enter and succeed in the job market. The announcement was made by Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament for Barrie, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“Our government’s top priority is creating jobs and economic growth,” said Mr. Brown. “Our government’s Youth Employment Strategy is helping youth develop the skills and gain the experience they need to get jobs now and prepare for the workforce of tomorrow.”
With annual funding of more than $300 million, the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES) helps youth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop employment skills, find jobs and stay employed. YES includes the Skills Link and Career Focus programs and the Canada Summer Jobs initiative, which creates thousands of job opportunities for students every summer.
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka is receiving over $30,000 through the Youth Awareness program to help youth learn about educational and career options. Youth Awareness complements the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy.
“Our government is creating opportunities for youth to succeed through support for initiatives like Youth Awareness,” said Mr. Stanton, Member of Parliament for Simcoe North. “Today’s youth are tomorrow’s workforce, so by investing in them we are helping contribute toCanada’s long-term growth, competitiveness and overall prosperity.”
The YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka will organize a Trades Career Day on May 23 to inform youth about opportunities in the skilled trades. The event will involve exhibits and workshops featuring experienced local tradespeople and employers.
Youth employment programs are part of the Government of Canada’s broader strategy to create an educated, skilled and flexible workforce. 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 Government of Canada is helping youth prepare for, find and maintain meaningful employment through enhanced online services available at Youth.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For more information, contact:
Alyson Queen
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
The Youth Employment Strategy is the Government of Canada’s commitment to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace.
Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, youth with disabilities, and youth in rural and remote areas, to develop the skills and gain the experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.
Career Focus provides funding to employers to hire young post-secondary graduates to give them career-related work experience and help them acquire skills to transition into the job market.
Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year.
Youth Awareness provides financial assistance for projects designed to address specific labour market challenges facing communities and aims to promote youth as the workforce of the future.
To learn more about Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy and other youth employment initiatives, please visit Youth.gc.ca.
