PENTICTON, BC, March 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Budget 2019 is the next step in the Government of Canada's plan to make sure middle-class Canadians benefit from Canada's economic growth. That includes helping more Canadians find an affordable home, prepare for good, well-paying jobs, retire with confidence and afford the prescription drugs they need.
Today in Penticton, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility, highlighted how investments in Budget 2019, Investing in the Middle Class, will help Canadians find and keep good jobs in a rapidly changing job market and in an increasingly competitive global economy.
Through Budget 2019, the government is taking concrete action for students and workers of all ages by:
- Making post-secondary education more affordable by lowering interest rates on Canada Student Loans and Canada Apprentice Loans, and making the six-month grace period interest-free after a student loan borrower leaves school.
- Providing more on-the-job learning to young Canadians by creating up to 84,000 new student work placements per year by 2023 to 2024. This is a significant step toward making sure that every student who wants to gain relevant, real-world experience can find a work placement.
- Enhancing support for apprenticeship by encouraging more people to consider training and working in the skilled trades.
- Creating meaningful opportunities through the Canada Service Corps for young Canadians to learn new skills, gain leadership experience and contribute to their communities.
- Supporting Indigenous post-secondary education with measures designed to help First Nations, Inuit and Métis students obtain the skills and experiences they need to succeed, leading to stronger economic growth for all Canadians.
- Creating opportunities for young Canadians to travel, work or study abroad and gain the skills needed to succeed in a global economy.
Canadians are among the most-skilled, highest-educated workers in the world. Through Budget 2019, the government is ensuring Canadians can keep their skills relevant so that they can build good careers and benefit from Canada's growing economy.
Quotes
"Budget 2019 is about supporting Canadian workers—present and future. By providing Canadians with the tools they need to learn new skills and boost their career, we can help grow Canada's economy and ensure it remains strong for years to come. Our investments will help young Canadians get the education and experience they need to find and keep good jobs, and provide opportunities to hard-working Canadians to enhance their skills in a changing economy."
The Honourable Carla Qualtrough
Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility
Quick facts
- The government has already introduced a number of measures to help Canadian workers find and keep good jobs today, and prepare for the new good jobs of tomorrow:
- Budget 2016 grew Canada Student Grant amounts by 50% and expanded eligibility criteria, making it possible for more students to receive assistance they do not have to pay back.
- In Budget 2017, the government introduced its Innovation and Skills Plan—an agenda that focuses on people and addresses the changing nature of the economy.
- Budget 2018 introduced the new Pre-Apprenticeship Program, which helps people who are currently underrepresented in the trades—including women, young people, Indigenous Peoples, newcomers and people with disabilities—prepare for an apprenticeship.
- The government makes significant investments in skills development—close to $7.5 billion annually. Almost $3 billion of this programming is delivered in partnership with the provinces, territories and Indigenous groups, and targets students and Canadians who are unemployed.
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SOURCE Public Services and Procurement Canada
Ashley Michnowski, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, 819-997-5421
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