OTTAWA, May 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Students across Canada will gain valuable work experience this summer, as a result of 36 000 jobs created through the Harper Government's Canada Summer Jobs initiative. The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development made the announcement today at the office of the Canadian Red Cross Society.
"Creating summer jobs for students benefits not only youth and employers, but local economies across the country as well," said Minister Finley. "Canada Summer Jobs is yet another excellent example of how our Government is creating jobs and economic growth for Canadians."
Minister Finley highlighted the student jobs created at the Canadian Red Cross Society as a concrete example of the type of tangible work experience youth gain through this initiative. The Society will employ hundreds of students in a wide range of jobs. In Ottawa, for example, two students will be hired for the positions of Summer Associate for the Disaster Management program and Special Event Associate.
"The Canadian Red Cross is a long-standing beneficiary of Canada Summer Jobs," said Conrad Sauvé, secretary general and CEO of the Canadian Red Cross. "This initiative has allowed us to hire hundreds of students from coast-to-coast, providing them with a practical learning experience and the opportunity to contribute to Canadian Red Cross activities ranging from disaster response to community health."
Canada Summer Jobs helps students gain the skills and experience they need to be successful now and in the future, while earning money for the upcoming school year. The initiative is an important part of the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy (YES), which also includes the Skills Link and Career Focus programs. With an annual budget of more than $300 million, YES helps youth obtain career information, develop employment skills, find jobs and stay employed.
Economic Action Plan (EAP) 2013 proposes an additional investment of $70 million over three years in YES to support 5 000 more paid internships. This is further to the extra $50 million that was invested through EAP 2012 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.
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. 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. To learn more about the Youth Employment Strategy, watch this video.