Canada’s government helps young people in southwestern Manitoba find jobs

 BRANDON, MANITOBA, December 5, 2008 — Young people from southwestern Manitoba will develop the skills they need to find and keep quality jobs through a project supported by the Government of Canada. Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon-Souris, announced the project today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

 “Our government is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world,” said Tweed. “Our partnership with the Southwest Horizon School Division and the Brandon Regional Health Authority will provide local youth with the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to take advantage of the local job market.”

 “A skilled workforce is vital to the overall economic future of Manitoba,” said Andrew Swan, Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade. “The provincial and federal governments are working hard to meet the challenge of providing the education and training skills Manitoba’s youth need to meet the demand of the province’s labour market.”

 Canada’s government is committing $84,600 in Youth Skills Link funding for the Southwest Horizon Mentorship project that will provide work placement experience to nine unemployed youth facing barriers to employment to help them develop the skills they need to find and maintain employment or return to school.

 "The Brandon Regional Health Authority is pleased to be a partner in this most worthwhile project,” said Carmel Olson, Chief Executive Officer, Brandon Regional Health Authority. “Demographics indicate that there is a diminishing workforce, and we must consider every opportunity to assist individuals to consider the health care system as an option."

 This project reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to creating a strong economy for all Canadians. Through its Advantage Canada plan, the Government is not only focusing on developing work-force skills, but is also building on Canada’s strengths and gaining a global competitive advantage by reducing taxes for all Canadians, increasing competition in the marketplace, building modern infrastructure, and eliminating the debt.

The Youth Skills Link program is delivered by Service Canada in the regions. Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however they choose—by phone at 1 800 O Canada, on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.

This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For more information on Youth Skills Link, please visit: www.youth.gc.ca

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Backgrounder

The Skills Link program is one of three Government of Canada programs that help young Canadians (aged 15 to 30) obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs, and stay employed. The two other programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.

Skills Link focuses on helping young people who face barriers to employment. These young people include high school drop-outs, single parents, Aboriginal youth, young people with disabilities, youth in rural areas, and recent immigrants. Summer Work Experience helps secondary and post-secondary students find summer jobs. Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates develop advanced skills and find careers in their fields. All three programs provide a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs.