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Government of Canada provides opportunities for youth in the Sault

Youth will gain valuable work experience
20160520 MP Terry Sheehan KA
Terry Sheehan, member of parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, seen in this file photo. Kenneth Armstrong/SooToday

NEWS RELEASE

TERRY SHEEHAN, SAULT STE. MARIE MP

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Building a strong middle class means giving Canada’s youth the tools they need to find and keep good jobs.

Last week, Terry Sheehan, Member of Parliament for the Riding of Sault Ste. Marie, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced a new project today that will give youth in the riding of Sault Ste. Marie, job skills training and hands-on work experience.

Approximately 132 youth will participate in the project, which will be delivered by the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA.

Through workshops, youth will develop skills to help them find and keep jobs, such as job search techniques, interview preparation and business communications. They will have the opportunity to participate in courses such as First Aid/CPR and health and safety.

Youth will also gain valuable work experience in such fields as retail, the green energy sector, construction, manufacturing, and social services.

The Government of Canada will provide approximately $1,124,711 in funding for this project through the Skills Link program of the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy.

Skills Link supports projects that help young people who face more barriers to employment than others develop basic employability skills and gain valuable job experience, which helps them in making a successful transition into the workforce or to return to school.

Quotes

“We know that our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate. Supporting youth as they transition into the workforce is a key way in which we can grow our economy and strengthen the middle class. Youth in the Riding of Sault Ste. Marie will benefit tremendously from the opportunity to develop their skills and gain valuable workplace experience.” - The Honourable Patty Hajdu, minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“Developing Canada’s youth is a priority. The YMCA’s project is a concrete example of what we can achieve for youth by working in partnership with organizations across the country. Projects like this one can help put regular paycheques into the reach of those who need it. But more than that, they give young Canadians the chance to change their future.” - Terry Sheehan, member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie

“It is our honour to be delivering the Skills Link Project to the youth of our community, to be able to assist in breaking down barriers to employment faced by our youth and help them be successful in achieving their employment goals. This project allows the YMCA to meet our mission of building a healthier Sault Ste. Marie. We are very grateful to Mr. Sheehan and the Government of Canada, for the opportunity to deliver this project. - Kim Caruso, CEO, Sault Ste. Marie YMCA

Quick Facts

  • Skills Link is one of three program streams under the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES). Each year, the Government invests more than $330 million in the YES to help support young Canadians between the ages of 15 and 30 to get the information, skills, job experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition to the workplace. 
  • Budget 2017 proposes to invest a further $395.5 million over three years in the YES for additional employment and skills development opportunities for youth.
  • Since 2005, YES programs delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) have helped over 582,000 youth develop skills and gain work experience to find a job or return to school. ESDC’s Skills Link program has helped over 141,000 youth since 2005.

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