Fed funding for our youth


By
May 26, 2021
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To be sure, Canada’s economic recovery depends in a large part on young people being able to get good, well-paying jobs now and into the future. Which is why the Government of Canada continues to make historic investments in our youth, to try to ensure they have the supports and opportunities they need to build long and successful careers.

Sault MP Terry Sheehan

Ergo, Sault member of parliament Terry Sheehan, who is also the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages, met virtually with participants from two local organizations to discuss their projects funded through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy.

The Sault Community Information and Career Centre Inc., and the YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie are collectively receiving over $2 million through the YESS program for projects that offer employment skills training and quality work placement opportunities to 155 youth facing barriers.  

The Government of Canada has invested over $223 million in 110 YESS projects across Ontario, to try to ensure that young people and students have access to supports and job experiences they need right now, and for their future careers.

Through ‘Budget 2021’, the Government is investing an additional $5.7 billion over the next five years to help young Canadians pursue and complete their education, acquire new skills and access more work opportunities. This is on top of the $7.4 billion already invested in young Canadians during the pandemic. Thousands more young Canadians will be able to benefit from the following historic Government investments such as the following.

  • 30,600 new job placements through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy in 2021–2022;
  • 220,000 job placements through Canada Summer Jobs over the program’s 2021 and 2022 seasons;
  • 50,000 work-integrated learning placements through the Student Work Placement Program in 2021–2022;
  • at least 85,000 work-integrated learning placements through Mitacs over the next five years starting in 2021–2022; and
  • 28,000 training and work opportunities for young Canadians through the Canada Digital Technology Adoption program in 2021–2022.

More than 150,000 ‘Canada Summer Jobs’ opportunities were posted for young Canadians to access across Canada — including more than 580 in Sault Ste. Marie. CSJ opportunities are available across a wide variety of fields, including community and charity work, food industries, recreation and fitness, marketing and public relations, landscaping and farm labour, and many others.

Taken together, the Government of Canada’s response to the current crisis represents one of the largest youth support packages in the world.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING

“Removing barriers and creating opportunities for our youth will always remain a top priority for me. Today’s announcement for employment skills training and quality work placements is critical in creating opportunities for 155 area youth. This announcement is on top of the record breaking announcement of  585 Canada Summer Jobs opportunities I recently announced for the Riding of Sault Ste. Marie.

– Terry Sheehan, MP for Sault Ste. Marie, and Parliamentary Secretary to The Minister of Economic Development and Official Languages (FedNor)

“Funded by the Government of Canada, the YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie is excited to offer this program to assist youth facing barriers to employment, give them an opportunity to improve their skills, gain valuable work experience, find meaningful jobs and move toward financial security. Providing support and offering paid employment opportunities to youth, means that these young people will have a chance to gain experience and build confidence in order to fully participate in the labour market.”         

 — Anne Markkula, Acting CEO, CFO, Sault Ste. Marie YMCA

“We’re grateful to the federal government for their generous support, and more importantly, for being a reliable partner to our organization. This funding allows us to positively impact the lives of young people in our community, including those facing barriers, by helping them navigate employment pathways and find success. The past year has been exceptionally challenging, but together, we continue to strive to build an inclusive and resilient workforce.”

–Karol Rains, Executive Director, Sault Community Career Centre

“Creating opportunities for young people to gain the valuable skills and experience they need to succeed is more important now than ever. Young Canadians today are facing unprecedented challenges, with disruptions in their job placements, studies, and internships. Partners like the Sault Community Information and Career Centre Inc., and the YMCA of Sault Ste. Marie are creating life-changing opportunities by helping those facing barriers to entering the workforce get the skills and professional training they need to build their future careers.”

– Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion

QUICK FACTS

  • Budget 2021 includes $101.4 billion over three years in proposed investments as part of the Government of Canada’s growth plan that will create good jobs and support a resilient and inclusive recovery. These measures include:
    • Supporting over 7,000 additional job placements through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. This will make it easier for young people to get good jobs, and better meet the needs of vulnerable youth facing multiple barriers to employment. This builds on funding announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, which is expected to result in over 30,600 new placements in 2021-22.
    • Investing $17.6 billion in a green recovery that will help Canada to reach its target to conserve 25% of Canada’s lands and oceans by 2025, exceed its Paris climate targets, reduce emissions by 36% below 2005 levels by 2030, and move forward on a path to reach net-zero emissions by 2050.
  • In April 2020, the Government of Canada invested $492 million over three years, through ESDC’s YESS program, for 269 projects across Canada to help young people facing barriers to employment successfully transition to the labour market.
  • To support youth affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada announced in April and June 2020 increased funding by up to $187.7 million to the YESS program to create 9,500 more work opportunities for young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment. YESS projects managed by ESDC received up to $40 million for national and regional programs that are providing flexible supports and targeted job opportunities for up to 6,200 youth aged 15 to 30, in the areas of social support services, transport, information technology, research and administration, and other placements that support community needs.