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

July 30, 2009

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA —Film Training Manitoba will provide 10 post-secondary graduates with the opportunity to enhance and develop their employment skills through career-related experience, as a result of the Government of Canada’s support. Mr. Rod Bruinooge, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg South, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“In today’s economic environment, it is more important than ever that all Canadians develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Mr. Bruinooge. “Our government is proud to support projects that offer youth the opportunity to develop skills and gain experience that will help them reach their full potential in their chosen fields.”

Film Training Manitoba will receive $49,965 through the Career Focus program of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. The Crew Internship Program will offer a work experience placement to 10 recent post-secondary graduates in a variety of film and television production positions. This experience will allow the participants to apply the skills they acquired during their education.

“Work experience is one of the most important services that Film Training Manitoba provides to the film and television community,” said Ms. Neila Benson, Executive Director of Film Training Manitoba. “The Career Focus program provides effective hands-on learning opportunities through on-the-job training.”

The Career Focus program 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 in to this strategy in Canada’s Economic Action Plan, designed to protect Canadians during the global economic downturn and invest in Canada’s long-term growth.

A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. The Government of Canada is temporarily investing an unprecedented $8.3 billion in the Canada Skills and Transition Strategy to support workers and their families. Canada’s Economic Action Plan proposes several initiatives targeted to youth, including:

• An increase in funding of $20 million over two years for Canada Summer Jobs, and a new $15 million grant to the YMCA and YWCA. The grant will be used to create approximately 800 to 1000 youth internships with non-profit and community organizations.
• An additional $2,000 Apprenticeship Completion Grant will be available to apprentices who successfully complete an apprenticeship program in a Red Seal trade. This represents an investment of $40 million per year. This new grant will complement the existing Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, which is a taxable cash grant of $1,000 per year for registered apprentices to help them cover some of the expenses related to tuition, travel and tools once they have successfully completed their first or second year/level (or equivalent) of an apprenticeship program in one of the Red Seal trades.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.