Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

Government of Canada helps Lower Mainland youth prepare for jobs

BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA, April 16, 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. Ms. Alice Wong, Parliamentary Secretary for Multiculturalism, 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 Ms. Wong. “By supporting this project, we are helping Lower Mainland youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential.”

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will receive $596,784 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Youth Employment Program, which will help 70 youth facing employment barriers develop life and job skills to ease their transition to work or return to school.

Skills Link focuses on helping youth facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants, youth living in rural and remote areas, and youth who have dropped out of high school.

“Thanks to this support from the Government of Canada, participants of the Youth Employment Program will have the opportunity to develop essential employability and life skills and gain experience that will allow them to thrive in the workforce and in their community,” said Mr. Tung Chan, Chief Executive Officer of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.

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 1 800 O‑Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.

Background Information

S.U.C.C.E.S.S. is a non-profit organization that offers employment assistance and training services in the Vancouver area. Between April 1, 2010, and September 30, 2011, through its Youth Employment Program, the organization will help 70 youth facing barriers to employment gain the skills and experience they need to make the transition to the labour market or return to school, through life and employability skills workshops and work experience placements.

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 persons 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.

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