KAWARTHA LAKES, ONTARIO, OCTOBER 19, 2010-Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada's support for an employment project. Mr. Barry Devolin, Member of Parliament for Haliburton–Kawartha Lakes–Brock, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.
"In today's environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market," said Mr. Devolin. "By supporting this project, we are helping youth in the Kawartha Lakes area develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential."
Victoria County Career Services (VCCS) will receive over $113,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support its youth employment project, which will help 14 youth facing employment barriers gain the skills and experience needed to enter the labour market or the confidence to return to school.
Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young people with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school.
"Thanks to Service Canada funding, we will be able to offer 14 youth a chance to develop life and employability skills, and to participate in an eight-week work experience that will hopefully lead to ongoing employment," said Ms. Carol Timlin, Executive Director of Victoria County Career Services. "VCCS is an employment counselling agency that has been offering programs and services to youth and adults for the past 22 years. Our agency began as a youth-serving agency, and we are always looking for programs that enhance our services to youth and allow them to stay and work in our community. Many thanks to Service Canada for funding this program."
The federal government is working with the provinces and territories, community organizations and other stakeholders to provide Canadians with the training, skills and opportunities they need to get jobs and contribute to their communities.
Through the 2010 "Jobs and Growth Budget," the Government of Canada committed an additional $60 million to the Skills Link and Career Focus programs. This additional one-time investment will enable more young Canadians to gain the experience and skills they need to successfully participate in the labour market while the economy recovers.
Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada's strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. 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 Skills Link program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1800O-Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.
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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Victoria County Career Services provides employment assistance and career counselling to individuals in the Kawartha Lakes area. Participants in the project will attend employability workshops and take part in work placements. The workshops will focus on such topics as communication, thinking and problem solving, teamwork, and job preparation skills. The work placements will allow the participants to put into practice the knowledge and skills gained during the workshops.
As part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, the Skills Link program is one of three programs that help young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The other two programs are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus.
Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young people with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school. It offers a client-centred approach based on assessing an individual's specific needs. The program supports youth in developing basic and advanced employment skills. Eligible participants between 15 and 30 years of age who are not receiving Employment Insurance benefits are assisted through a coordinated approach offering longer-term supports and services that can help them find and keep a job.
