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Government of Canada seeks ideas for projects to connect youth with jobs Monday, 03 September 2012 Over the years I have met with many young adults throughout our community, and from our discussions I have heard that one of their main concerns is the ability to break into the job market. Many youth who are looking for work struggle to get their foot in the door. And many have heard the familiar refrain: No experience, no job. No job, no experience.
 
Everyone suffered in the recent downturn, but young people were particularly hard hit. Even at the best of times, it’s hard for a young person to break into the job market—to transition from school to work.
 
Yet we need to bridge that gap because Canada is already facing labour shortages in some critical areas. At the beginning of May, there were more than 258 000 job vacancies across Canada. Many of those jobs could be filled by young people.
 
Our Government is committed to ensuring that young Canadians have the opportunity to reach their full potential, and establish meaningful and successful careers.
 
That’s why, through Economic Action Plan 2012, we are introducing a new initiative under the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) to connect approximately 3000 youth with jobs in key sectors of the economy. 
 
The Youth Employment Strategy (YES) helps youth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, find jobs and stay employed. YES includes the Skills Link and Career Focus programs and the Canada Summer Jobs initiative that creates thousands of job opportunities for students every summer.
 
A good job is vital to building a better life and a skilled workforce is vital to building a competitive and prosperous country. With that in mind, the new investment will be dedicated to projects that connect young Canadians with jobs in fields that are in high demand, such as the skilled trades and tourism.
 
The funding will be made available through two Calls for Proposals (CFP) – a Skills Link CFP and a Career Focus CFP.
 
Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment, including youth who are single parents, youth with disabilities and youth in rural and remote areas, to develop the skills and gain the experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school. While the Career Focus provides funding to employers to hire young post-secondary graduates to give them career-related work experience and help them acquire skills to transition into the job market.
 
We are seeking ideas for projects that will help employers fill labour shortages while providing youth with the all-important, on-the-job experience they need to find a good job. 
 
Organizations, including but not limited to, businesses, not-for-profit organizations, crown corporations, educational institutions, Aboriginal organizations, and provincial, territorial and municipal governments can apply for funding.
 
The Calls opened on September 5 and will close on October 19. I invite organizations from across our community to apply. Click Here for more information and to Apply online. 
 
Today’s youth are tomorrow’s workforce, so by investing in them we are helping contribute to Canada’s long-term growth, competitiveness and overall prosperity.
 
-          The Honourable Tim Uppal, P.C., M.P.
Minister of State for Democratic Reform
Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Sherwood Park

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