Government of Canada supports youth employment program in Brandon

March 17, 2009

BRANDON, MANITOBA, March 17, 2009—At-risk youth in Brandon will benefit from the Government of Canada’s commitment to a local employment project. Mr. Merv Tweed, Member of Parliament for Brandon–Souris, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“It is more important than ever that youth develop the skills needed to participate and succeed in today’s job market,” said Mr. Tweed. “We are pleased to be helping young Canadians facing employment barriers gain the skills, knowledge and work experience they will need to reach their full potential.”

Career and Employment Youth Services will receive $99,849 in federal funding through the Government of Canada’s Skills Link program for its Jumpstart project. Designed to help youth gain employment, the organization will provide 14 at-risk youth with an opportunity to develop employment skills through developmental training in the fields of truck driving and personal care work. Participants of the project will be selected from priority areas in Brandon and surrounding areas.

Skills Link is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best-educated, most-skilled and most flexible work force in the world. The Government underscored this commitment in January when it introduced Canada’s Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development.