Harper Government Helps Over 535 Youth in Toronto Get Jobs

April 16, 2015 – Toronto, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada

The Harper Government is helping equip youth in Toronto with the skills and experience they need to find jobs. Today, the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West, announced that Youth Employment Services and the Toronto Youth Job Corps have received support to help more than 535 youth in Toronto gain the skills and experience they need to find jobs.

Participants in both projects will receive in-person training and critical jobs skills such as problem solving and teamwork. Some participants may also obtain specialized training, such as health and safety certification. They will be connected with local employers so they can gain real work experience in areas such as landscaping, office work, retail and manufacturing.

This is one part of the Harper Government’s comprehensive strategy to equip all Canadians with the skills and training they need to connect with available jobs. To help hard-working families, the Harper Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.

Quick Facts

• Since 2006, the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, which includes the Skills Link program, has helped over 611,000 youth. Both Youth Employment Services and the Toronto Youth Job Corps are receiving funding under Skills Link.
• The Harper Government is helping Canadian youth get the skills employers are looking for with the Canada Job Grant, apprenticeship grants and the new Canada Apprentice Loan. The Government also offers tax credits, such as the tuition, education and textbook tax credits, tradesperson’s tools deduction and the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.
• Since January, nearly 800 apprentices from Ontario have benefited from the Canada Apprentice Loan, a total of over 5,000 from across the country. Since 2006, the Government has provided over 530,000 apprenticeship grants to Canadians across the country. Apprentices in Ontario have received over 131,000 apprenticeship grants.
• At least 26,000 apprentices are expected to apply annually for the Canada Apprentice Loan, which provides apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with interest-free loans of up to $4,000 per period of technical training, for a maximum of five periods, to complete their technical training.
• The Universal Child Care Benefit would increase to almost $2,000 per year for each pre-schooler and extend to $720 for every child age 6 through 17.

Quotes

“Under Prime Minister Harper’s leadership, the Government is helping Canadians get the skills and training they need to find good jobs and build better futures for themselves and their families. I am pleased that 535 youth in Toronto will benefit from our initiatives to connect Canadians with jobs. We are proud to work with local organizations to help young people develop the skills they need to enter and succeed in the job market, ultimately strengthening the entire Canadian economy.”

– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

“Preparing our youth to enter the job market is crucial to ensuring their prosperous and independent future and to strengthen the economy in our communities. I am extremely pleased to announce that youth in Toronto will benefit from our initiatives to connect young people with jobs.”

– John Carmichael, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West

“ We appreciate the support of the Government of Canada for giving young adults in Toronto opportunities to improve their lives through training and employment.”

– Maureen Fair, Executive Director, West Neighbourhood House

Associated Links

Services for Youth

Economic Action Plan

Helping Families Prosper