SIOUX LOOKOUT – 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. Mr. Greg Rickford, Member of Parliament for Kenora, announced today.
“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 Rickford. “By supporting this project, we are helping Sioux Lookout youth develop the skills, knowledge and work experience they need to reach their full potential.”
The Sioux Lookout Area Aboriginal Management Board (SLAAMB) will receive over $90,000 in federal Skills Link funding to support a project, which will help 28 on?reserve Aboriginal youth facing employment barriers develop life and job skills to ease their transition to work or return to school.
“On behalf of the First Nation Communities we want to thank the Government of Canada, specifically Service Canada, for assisting the youth at risk in our communities through these projects, said Mr. Bob Bryuere, coordinator.”
Eligible youth participants will be based in Eagle Lake, North Caribou Lake, Sachigo Lake, Bearskin Lake, Kasabonika Lake, Wunnumin Lake and Wapekeka First Nations. The funding will enable 28 eligible participants to be employed for 35 hours per week for 8 weeks. Employment activities may include: general office work including filing, reception, accounting and bookkeeping; coordination of recreational activities, and assisting the elderly in their communities with the needs of their homes.
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.
“Having lived and worked in remote First Nations communities, I know how important this work experience will be for these youth,” added Rickford. “Through these jobs, they may find greater clarity for future employment or training choices, as well as apply knowledge and skills they have learned in school and gain important confidence.”
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.