The Government of Canada helps post-secondary graduates in Montréal gain
career-related experience

MONTREAL, Oct. 22 /CNW Telbec/ - Post-secondary graduates will get an opportunity to enhance and develop their employment skills through two regional projects supported by the Government of Canada. The Honourable Christian Paradis, Minister of Natural Resources and Minister responsible for Quebec, 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. "Our government is proud to support projects that offer post-secondary graduates the opportunity to develop the skills and gain the experience that will help them reach their full potential."

Two Montréal-area organizations—the Conseil des arts de Montréal and Youth Employment Services—will receive total funding of $355,000 from the Government of Canada under the Career Focus program. This funding will enable 38 young post-secondary graduates to apply the skills they acquired during their studies.

"As a result of this concerted funding, 20 young people will be able to participate in an internship that will enable them to more quickly and effectively enter the field of their dreams, as is shown by the 100-percent employment retention rate after the first two years of this project," said Ms. Louise Roy, President of the Conseil des arts de Montréal. "In the metropolitan area, the arts and culture sector is flourishing; it's a great accomplishment for us to enable young people to have this experience while at the same time ensuring succession." 

"The Internships That Work! project will enable 18 English-speaking young post-secondary graduates to participate in internships with various businesses in the Montréal area," said Ms. Iris Unger, Executive Director of Youth Employment Services. "This way, participants will benefit from professional mentoring in an area directly related to their studies."

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.

Career Focus 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 this commitment 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 Career Focus 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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backgrounder

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Two Montréal-area organizations will receive funding under the Career Focus program for their respective projects.

The Conseil des arts de Montréal will receive more than $210,000 for its project entitled Premières expériences de travail dans des fonctions liées au domaine artistique. A dynamic partner in Montréal's artistic creations, the organization supports and recognizes excellence in the creation, production and presentation of professional artistic endeavours by way of financial support, advice, and consultation and development initiatives. For more than 50 years, formative action by the Conseil des arts de Montréal has contributed to making Montréal a cultural metropolis. This project will enable 20 young post-secondary graduates to gain work experience through an internship in their field of study.

Youth Employment Services will receive more than $145,000 for its project called Internships That Work!. This non-profit organization supports community enrichment by providing English-language support services, thereby facilitating integration into the labour market. This project will enable 18 participants to attend workshops and take part in an internship with a business related to their area of specialization.

As part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy, the Career Focus 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 Skills Link.

Career Focus links post-graduate youth with potential employers who can provide them with career-related work experience and help them acquire advanced employment skills to facilitate their transition into the rapidly changing labour market.

For further information:

(media only):

Michelle Bakos Press Secretary Office of Minister Finley                819-994-2482

Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada 819-994-5559