Over $6 Million invested in youth skills training in London North Centre since 2011
July 16, 2015 – London, ON - The federal Government is helping equip youth in London and the surrounding area with the skills and experience they need to find jobs. The announcement was made today by and the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Susan Truppe, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women and Member of Parliament for London North Centre, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development.
Through the Government’s Youth Employment Strategy, ATN Access Inc. will deliver a project to help 48 youth with mental health issues and learning disabilities in London and the counties of Elgin, Oxford and Middlesex, through an investment of over $400,000. This project will help young people successfully transition to the job market or return to school.
Project participants will learn or improve useful job skills, including effective communication and problem solving. They will have the opportunity to earn certificates in specialized training, such as safe food handling and fall protection. They will also gain work experience with local employers in fields related to their employment goals, such as food service, manufacturing and construction.
Today’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. To help hard-working families, the 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 Harper Government’s Youth Employment Strategy has helped over 611,000 youth.
- 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, the tradesperson’s tools deduction and the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.
- Economic Action Plan 2014 introduced the Canada Apprentice Loan, which provides apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with interest-free loans of up to $4,000 to complete their technical training. Loans are interest-free until apprentices complete or leave their apprenticeship training program, up to a maximum of six years. Since January, over 6,000 apprentices across Canada have benefited from the Canada Apprentice Loan.
- The Universal Child Care Benefit will increase from $100 to $160 per month, totalling up to $1,920 per year, for children under the age of 6, and parents will receive a new benefit of $60 per month, up to $720 per year, for each child aged 6 through 17.
Quotes
“Many young Canadians are caught in the cycle of no experience-no job, no job-no experience. That is why our Government has made youth employment a priority. Providing opportunities for young Canadians, in big cities and small communities, to receive proper skills training and development is good news for both local business and ultimately the Canadian economy.”
– The Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Public Works and Government Services, and Member of Parliament for Haldimand–Norfolk
“Our Government is helping Canadians get the skills and training they need to find good jobs and build better futures for themselves and their families. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s workforce, so by investing in them, we are helping contribute to Canada’s long-term growth, competitiveness and overall prosperity. We are proud to work with organizations like ATN so young people, including those in London and the counties of Elgin, Oxford and Middlesex, can develop the skills they need to succeed in the job market.”
– Susan Truppe, Parliamentary Secretary for Status of Women and Member of Parliament for London North Centre
“Participants in our Skills Link program tell us it is a “life changing” experience. Youth who may have been hiding in their parent’s basements for months or even years are finding their passions, developing employment skills, and rediscovering their places in the community. The rewards that come to participants are reflected in the engagement and commitment of my staff who are all very enthusiastic about the program. We are thankful to the Canadian government for helping us provide this resource to young people in our community.”
– Vicki Mayer, Executive Director, ATN Access Inc.
Associated Links
For more information, contact:
Nicholas Colosimo
Executive Assistant
Office of Susan Truppe, M.P.
613-995-1462
