Government of Canada invests to help recent graduates get jobs

NORTH BAY, ON, June 7, 2013 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada announced funding to help a recent graduate in North Bay to gain the skills, knowledge and experience needed to enter and succeed in the job market. The announcement was made by Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing-Timiskaming, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Mr. Aspin. "The Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy is helping youth develop the skills and gain the experience they need to get jobs now and prepare for the workforce of tomorrow."

The Capitol Centre is receiving over $19,000 from the Career Focus program to help a recent graduate gain on-the-job experience and apply the skills acquired through education to ease the transition to work. Career Focus is part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES).

The graduate will gain career-related experience in history, heritage and the arts by working as a heritage coordinator over a 10-month period. The participant will perform various duties such as supervising and recruiting volunteers, organizing and conducting tours, as well as writing and executing a marketing campaign.

"The Capitol Centre is delighted to receive Government of Canada funding to provide career-related work experience," says Dee Adrian, General Manager, Capitol Centre.

With annual funding of approximately $300 million, YES helps youth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, find jobs and stay employed. YES includes the Skills Link and Career Focus programs and the Canada Summer Jobs initiative, which creates thousands of job opportunities for students every summer.

Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes an additional investment of $70 million over three years to create 5 000 more paid internships. This is further to the extra $50 million invested through Economic Action Plan 2012 to enhance YES with a new initiative that connects young Canadians with jobs in high demand and helps them develop tangible skills and gain work experience.

Youth employment programs are part of the Government of Canada's broader strategy to connect Canadians with available jobs. Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes new measures to equip Canadians with the skills and training they need. These include the Canada Job Grant, creating opportunities for apprentices and providing support to under-represented groups such as people with disabilities, Aboriginal peoples, newcomers and youth. To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.

The Government of Canada is helping youth plan their careers, learn new skills and find jobs through enhanced online services available at youth.gc.ca.

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Backgrounder

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The Youth Employment Strategy is the Government of Canada's commitment to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace.

Skills Link, which is part of YES, helps youth facing barriers to employment, including youth who are single parents, youth with disabilities, young newcomers and youth in rural and remote areas, to develop the skills and gain the experience needed to find a job or the confidence to return to school.

Career Focus provides funding to employers to hire young post-secondary graduates to give them career-related work experience and help them acquire skills to transition into the job market.

Canada Summer Jobs provides funding to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create summer job opportunities for young people aged 15 to 30 years who are full-time students intending to return to their studies in the next school year.

To learn more about Canada's Youth Employment Strategy and other youth employment initiatives, visit youth.gc.ca.

SOURCE: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

For further information:

 Jan O'Driscoll
 Press Secretary
 Office of Minister Finley
 819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada
819-994-5559
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IF THERE IS A DISCREPANCY BETWEEN ANY PRINTED VERSION AND THE ELECTRONIC VERSION OF THIS NEWS RELEASE, THE ELECTRONIC VERSION WILL PREVAIL.

This news release is available online at: actionplan.gc.ca.