Government of Canada Provides Skills Training and Job Opportunities for Young Canadians in Saskatoon

SASKATOON, Canada, May 17 -- Canadian Employment and Social Development issued the following news release:

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

Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Member of Parliament for Regina- Wascana, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced funding for two projects that will help up to 400 young Canadians develop their skills and get hands-on work experience.

The Government of Canada is providing more than $770,000 to the Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre for its Skills for a Stronger Community 2017-2020 project through the Skills Link program. Over 31 months, up to 200 participants, including Indigenous youth, recent immigrants and visible minorities, will receive training in employability skills, followed by four weeks of work placements in the construction and related trades.

The Government, in partnership with the Government of Saskatchewan, is also providing more than $2.4 million to Tourism Saskatchewan for its Ready to Work: Tourism and Hospitality Careers project. Over 31 months, up to 200 young people, including Indigenous youth, new Canadians and others at risk, will develop a broad range of skills and knowledge that will help them participate in the labour market. Project activities, which include instruction in necessary employment skills and work experience in the service/tourism industries, will take place in 12 area communities.

Skills Link supports projects that help young people who face more barriers to employment than others get employability skills and gain valuable job experience, which, in turn, helps them make a successful transition into the workforce or go back to school. This could include youth who have not completed high school, single parents, Indigenous youth, youth with disabilities, newcomers or youth living in rural or remote areas.

Quotes

"We know that our communities are healthier and stronger when everyone can fully participate. Supporting youth as they transition into the workforce and giving them the training they need to succeed is a key way in which we can grow our economy and strengthen the middle class."

- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

"These two initiatives will help young people who face barriers get the training they need to start in the workforce and become successful in their careers. By making our economy more inclusive, we're supporting greater prosperity and a stronger middle class. Congratulations to the Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre and Tourism Saskatchewan for helping our youth realize their potential."

- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Member of Parliament for Regina-Wascana

"Partnerships have been critical to the Ready to Work program's success from the beginning. The program is an example of federal and provincial governments working side-by-side to address challenges faced by some of the most vulnerable in our society. Today's announcement of Government of Canada investment in Ready to Work is reassuring news and will assist participants in gaining skills, experience and confidence."

- The Honourable Gene Makowsky, Minister Responsible for Tourism Saskatchewan

"The funding provided through the Skills Link program has enabled the Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre the ability to expand our operational capacity and give more vulnerable youth access to training and employment opportunities."

- Donavon Elliott, Executive Director, Saskatoon Trades and Skills Centre

Quick facts

Canada's future prosperity depends on young people getting the education and work experience they need to succeed. Each year, the Government invests over $330 million in the Youth Employment Strategy to help young people gain the skills and work experience they need to find and maintain good employment.

Through Budget 2018, the Government provides an additional $448.5 million over five years, starting in 2018-19, to the Youth Employment Strategy. This funding will support the continued increase of the number of job placements funded under the Canada Summer Jobs program in 2019-20.

Budget 2017 invested an additional $395.5 million over three years. Combined with Budget 2016 measures, these investments will help:

* more than 33,000 vulnerable youth develop the skills they need to find work or go back to school;

* create 15,000 new green jobs for young Canadians; and

* provide over 1,600 new employment opportunities for youth in the heritage sector.