Investing in jobs and opportunities in western Canada - Over 150 people to benefit from job skills upgrading, work experience in new projects

GATINEAU, QC, May 6, 2016 /CNW/ - The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced today new projects aimed at helping Canadians and refugees in western Canada get the skills needed to overcome barriers to employment.

The funding, which totals more than $1 million, will be provided to several organizations in British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba for projects to help under-represented groups, such as new Canadians, refugees, Indigenous people, youth and people with disabilities, build their skills and prepare for the workforce of the future.

These projects will provide group workshops to develop or enhance skills, such as workplace safety, safe food handling and job search techniques. They will also offer work experience opportunities in job categories of interest to participants, or they will provide support to participants wishing to start their own business. Examples of projects include:

• Up to 50 youth, including immigrant and refugee youth, in Edmonton will increase their employability skills through group workshops on topics such as teamwork, workplace etiquette and management skills. This will be followed by several weeks of work experience in high-demand sectors that match the participants' skills.
• In British Columbia's southern interior, up to 75 people with disabilities will get support to help them become employed or self-employed. Some participants may receive up to six months of skills upgrading in an in-demand sector, while others may receive support to help them start their own business, such as help with preparing business plans.

Since November 2015, 202 new grants and contributions projects have been launched to help more than 8,300 people across Canada, with a total combined value of over $66 million.   

Quote

"Investing in community projects not only helps people gain the skills, abilities and work experience they need to find and maintain good employment, but it also helps strengthen and grow Canada's middle class."
– The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

Quick Facts

• Funding for these projects will be provided through Employment and Social Development Canada's Skills Link and Career Focus programs, and the Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities.
• Budget 2016 includes new investments in job creation and workforce development, including:
  • $165 million in new funding for the Youth Employment Strategy to help young people gain the skills, abilities and experience they need to find and maintain good employment; and
  • doubling funding in the Canada Summer Jobs program to hire up to 70,000 youth this summer.

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Backgrounder

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Youth

Each year, the Government invests more than $330 million through its Youth Employment Strategy to help young Canadians gain the skills and work experience they need to start their careers and contribute to the economy.

Budget 2016 builds on the $330 million and has announced an additional $165.4 million in 2016–17 to:

• create new green jobs for youth;
• increase the number of youth who access the Skills Link program, which helps young Canadians overcome barriers to employment; and
• support employment opportunities in the heritage sector under the Young Canada Works program.

Since 2005, over 772,000 young Canadians have received the skills upgrading they need to enter the labour market through the Government of Canada's youth employment programs. These programs help youth between the ages of 15 and 30 get the information and gain the skills and work experience they need to succeed in the workplace.

Earlier this year, the Government announced an additional $339 million for the Canada Summer Jobs program, to be delivered over three years, starting in 2016–17.

Skills Link helps youth facing barriers to employment—including 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 return to school. Skills Link has helped over 230,000 youth since 2005.

Career Focus helps post-secondary graduates transition to the labour market through paid internships and helps provide youth with the information and experience they need to make informed career decisions, find a job and/or pursue advanced studies. The Career Focus initiative has helped over 37,000 youth acquire skills needed to join the job market since 2005.

People with disabilities

The Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities assists Canadians with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and keep employment, or become self-employed, to help them participate fully in the workforce and increase their independence. The program emphasizes work experience for youth with disabilities, the involvement of both employers and community organizations in the design and delivery of projects, and hands-on work experience. The Government provides $40 million annually to the Opportunities Fund and has helped 40,000 people with disabilities across Canada since 2005.

Alberta

Projects approved for funding in Alberta, April 1–29, 2016

Constituency	Program	Organization Name	ESDC Funding
Edmonton Griesbach	Youth – Skills Link	Somali Canadian Education and Rural Development Organization (SCERDO)	$429,647
Edmonton Strathcona	Youth – Career Focus	Accès Emploi Alberta	$99,850
			$529,497 TOTAL

British Columbia

Projects approved for funding in British Columbia, April 1–29, 2016

Constituency	Program	Organization Name	ESDC Funding
Vancouver East	Opportunities Fund (Regional)	Open Doors Social Services Society	$303,520
			$303,520 TOTAL

Manitoba

Projects approved for funding in Manitoba, April 1–29, 2016

Constituency	Program	Organization Name	ESDC Funding
Elmwood–Transcona	Youth – Skills Link	Elmwood Community Resource Centre (ECRC)	$243,460
			$243,460 TOTAL

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

For further information: John O'Leary, Director of Communications, Office of the Hon. MaryAnn Mihychuk, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, 819-654-5611; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]