Vic Toews, MP for Provencher, with Segue Career Options staff and program participants.
The Government of Canada announced new funding to support youth in Steinbach to help them gain the skills, knowledge and experience they need to enter and succeed in the job market. The announcement was made by the Honourable Vic Toews, Member of Parliament for Provencher, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
“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,” said MP Toews. “I am very pleased that Steinbach youth will benefit from the workshops offered through the Skills Link program.”
Segue Career Options is receiving over $151,000 from the Skills Link program to help 20 youth overcome barriers to employment. Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES).
With annual funding of more than $300 million, 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.
Economic Action Plan 2012 will provide an additional $50 million over two years to enhance YES so that more young people can gain tangible skills and experience. This funding will focus on connecting young Canadians with jobs in fields that are in high demand.
The participants in the Segue Career Options project will attend skills workshops on topics including computer use, problem solving and time management. Participants will then gain hands-on experience through work placements with local employers in fields such as retail, administration and the skilled trades.
“Segue Career Options would like to acknowledge the Government of Canada for the Skills Link funding for our youth employment project in Steinbach,” said Debra Stockwell, Program Director, Segue Career Options. “This funding is essential to assist youth in our community and surrounding areas to make a successful transition into employment or return to school.”
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.
