Government of Canada helps Granby youth prepare for jobs

GRANBY, QC, April 8 /CNW Telbec/ - 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. The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources, 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 Minister Paradis. "By supporting this project, we are helping Granby youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential and fulfill their dreams."

Auberge Sous mon toit will receive $95,124 in federal Skills Link funding to support its Vivre vert et en santé project, which will help eight 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.

"Our organization is proud to offer young people who are having difficulties a new chance in the labour market, or to just help them integrate," indicated Mr. Alain Massé, Executive Director of Auberge Sous mon toit. "The Vivre vert et en santé project will pave the way for eight young people in Haute-Yamaska to successfully and confidently deal with integration or reintegration."

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.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

    
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Auberge Sous mon toit is part of the Regroupement des Auberges du cœur du Québec, which has 31 Auberges members spread throughout 11 regions in Quebec. From March 8 to August 20, 2010, through its Vivre vert et en santé project, the organization will help eight young people facing barriers to employment, including youth who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless, to acquire the skills and abilities they need to integrate into the labour market or to return to school. Participants will attend theoretical and practical workshops that will teach them the skills they need to restore bicycles that will be used for a community bicycle lending service.

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.

For further information: media only: Michelle Bakos, Press Secretary, Office of Minister Finley, [phone]; Media Relations Office, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, [phone]