Hon. Alice Wong, P.C.

Burnaby, British Columbia, November 10, 2011— The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced that the Government of Canada is investing over $1,569,000 in four youth employment projects. Minister Wong made the announcement at S.U.C.C.E.S.S which is receiving over $696,000 through the Skills Link Program for its youth employment program.

“For many young Canadians, it is a challenge to make the transition to the job market, especially in today’s environment,” said Minister Wong. “That is why our government is creating opportunities for youth to succeed through support for community-based employment projects.”

Local youth who face barriers to employment will get job preparation training and work experience through the Government of Canada’s investments in four employment projects.

With assistance from the Government of Canada, three community organizations will each deliver a Skills Link project to help over 150 youth develop the skills and experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school. In addition to S.U.C.C.E.S.S, the other two projects are:

* UFCW Local 247 will receive over $469,000 in Skills Link funding for its Discovery to Apprenticeship project.
* The Mennonite Central Committee of British Columbia will receive over $364,000 in Skills Link funding for its Youth Keep Working project.

The fourth organization, Uni‑Pro Apparel Inc., will receive $40,000 for a Career Focus project to help two post‑secondary graduates gain practical experience through on-the-job training.

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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For further information (media only):

Robert Lynch
Director, Communications
Office of Minister of State Wong
613-960-8717

Alyson Queen
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-555

Backgrounder

The Skills Link and Career Focus programs are two of three programs under the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy (YES); the other program is Summer Work Experience. YES helps young people aged 15 to 30 years, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed.

Skills Link helps youth between 15 and 30 years of age who are not receiving Employment Insurance benefits develop basic and advanced employment skills. Career Focus links young post-secondary graduates with potential employers who can provide them with career-related work experience and help them acquire advanced employment skills to facilitate their transition into the rapidly changing labour market.

Youth employment programs are also 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 and Career Focus programs are 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 servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1 800 O‑Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.

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