Students Receive First Share of Summer Employment Support in Four Years

OTTAWA, Jan. 5 /CNW/ - The federal government has made a commendable investment of $10 million to the Canada Summer Jobs Program after years of underfunding and record high student unemployment. The investment comes after a lack of consistency in ensuring summer employment for students and represents the first funding increase the program has seen since its funding was cut in 2006.

"The Canada Summer Jobs Program creates jobs for students that would not otherwise exist," said David Molenhuis, National Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. "After record levels of unemployment and the vast majority of students facing tuition fee increases it is high time that the federal government do something about it."

Before the 2007 recession, student unemployment in Canada was considered unacceptably high at nearly double the national average. According to Statistics Canada, students aged 15-24 faced the second highest summer unemployment rate on record at 19.2% in 2009. Student unemployment continues to outpace pre-recession levels, furthering concerns that many students will not have enough money to make it through the year. As well, the Conservative government has shown inconsistent support for student employment since 2006 when Canada Summer Jobs Program funding was cut in half. Subsequent budgets have ultimately reversed funding cuts. Even though summer 2009 was the bleakest job market for students in recent history, the government has finally decided to increase funding and address student employment.

"Student summer jobs will employ more students in the short-term and will also provide skills development in the long-term," added Molenhuis. "Only through government investment is this possible."

The Canadian Federation of Students is Canada's largest student organisation, uniting more that one-half million students in all ten provinces. The Canadian Federation of Students and its predecessor organisations have represented students in Canada since 1927. 

For further information:

David Molenhuis, National Chairperson, [phone]