November 5, 2013
Ottawa, Ontario
Check against delivery
Good morning everyone. It’s great to be here with you. It’s not every day that I get to speak to such a young crowd, so it truly is a pleasure.
I’m going to start by asking you a very important question. What do you want to be when you grow up?
I'm sure we’ve all heard that question a million times; especially as children.
And maybe you said you wanted to be a hockey player, a fire fighter or maybe a teacher? Or maybe you just didn’t know. Maybe you still don’t know, and that’s okay.
But there comes a time when you have to come up with a definitive answer to that question. And it’s not always easy.
Coming here today is certainly a great start.
I’d like to thank the Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada for organizing this great new event.
You're here because, I assume, you’re curious about politics and our democratic process.
The YOUth in Office Job Shadowing Day on Parliament Hill will give you a window into the working world and the opportunity to explore different jobs in politics.
I hope your experience today will give you some insight into how Parliament works and inspire you to be part of that process.
After all, you are the next generation of Canadians. And if you pursue a career in politics and government, you will shape this country’s future.
That's why I'm here. I chose this career because I wanted to make a difference. I wanted to serve my country and change things for the better.
Just across the street, on Parliament Hill, is a building full of people who are making decisions that affect you and me every day.
They make decisions that affect your health, your safety, even your rights as a citizen.
These things, big or small, impact us all in some way.
It could be anything, from the amount of tax you pay when you buy a bottle of water, to the image of lung cancer you see on a package of cigarettes.
Those kinds of decisions matter to me and that's why I chose a career in politics.
Today, you'll get to see first-hand the kind of work it takes to make those decisions, and put them into action.
You'll get a sneak peek at a typical work day for a parliamentary assistant, a communications director, a policy advisor or a Member of Parliament.
And if you still need some help deciding on a career path, you can find all the information you need at youth.gc.ca.
There you can find information on everything from planning your post-secondary education to finding a job.
Our government’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. Our Youth Employment Strategy is helping young people like you develop the skills and experience they need to get jobs now and prepare for the workforce of tomorrow.
Recently, as part of this strategy, I announced a new initiative to connect young Canadians with jobs in high-demand fields, such as the skilled trades and the sciences. We are also creating even more paid internships through our Economic Action Plan.
Since 2006, our Youth Employment Strategy has helped more than 555 000 young people, and we continue to invest in post-secondary education so it is accessible to all Canadians.
You are the workforce of tomorrow. That’s why we’re doing our best to you give you the knowledge, skills and experience you need to succeed.
By making youth a priority, we are helping contribute to Canada’s long-term growth, competitiveness and overall prosperity.
Today is a great opportunity to explore your future career path. So enjoy your day on Parliament Hill.
I hope you find it as inspiring as I do.
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