WINNIPEG, April 11, 2013 /CNW/ - Over 475 youth from across Manitoba competed in more than 40 trade and technology fields at the Skills Manitoba Competition today. Speaking at the event, Dr. Kellie Leitch, Parliamentary Secretary to the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, congratulated the participants and outlined recent federal budget measures that will support youth.
"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Dr. Leitch. "Through grants, tax credits and support for training programs, such as apprenticeships, we are encouraging young Canadians to pursue careers in the skilled trades."
Dr. Leitch also highlighted the Government of Canada's continued funding support of Skills/Compétences Canada and its provincial and territorial chapters, including an investment of over $221,000 to Skills Manitoba. Skills/Compétences Canada coordinates annual skills competitions and promotes careers in skilled trades and technology to Canadian youth.
"Skills competitions are an exceptional showcase for talented young competitors and will inspire other young people to explore careers in the trades, technologies and service industries," added Dr. Leitch. "Investing in skills training is part of the Government of Canada's strategy to create the educated, skilled and flexible workforce necessary for a strong economy, now and in the future."
With an annual budget of more than $300 million, the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES) helps youth, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop employment 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 2012 provided an extra $50 million over two years to enhance YES with a new initiative that connects young Canadians with jobs that are in high demand and helps them develop tangible skills and gain work experience.
Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes new measures to connect Canadians with available jobs and equip them 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 persons with disabilities, youth, Aboriginal peoples and newcomers. For example, Economic Action Plan 2013 proposes an additional investment of $70 million over three years to support 5 000 more paid internships.
Economic Action Plan 2013 also plans to promote education in high-demand fields, including the skilled trades, science, technology, engineering and mathematics. This will include providing more information on the job prospects and benefits of working in various occupations.
This investment complements the Government of Canada Apprenticeship Grants, that provide up to $4,000 to help apprentices complete their training and launch rewarding careers. To date, the Government of Canada has provided nearly a half-billion dollars in apprenticeship grants to Canadians to encourage them to become skilled tradespeople.
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.
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Youth employment programs are part of the Government of Canada's broader strategy to create an educated, skilled and flexible workforce. 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.
The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant and Apprenticeship Completion Grant are designed to make a career in the trades an attractive choice and encourage more apprentices to complete their training. As a result of these grants apprentices in designated Red Seal trades could be eligible to receive up to $4,000, which can be used to pay tuition, tools or other expenses.
The Youth Employment Strategy is the Government of Canada's commitment to help youth make a successful transition to the workplace.
Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment, including youth who are single parents, youth with disabilities 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, please visit youth.gc.ca.
SOURCE: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Alyson Queen
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
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This news release is available online at: www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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