NB 1178
Sept. 18, 2007
OROMOCTO (CNB) - Funding has been announced for Skills Canada New Brunswick to help build awareness of the career options in skilled trades available to young people across the province. Justice and Consumer Affairs Minister T.J. Burke and Tobique-Mactaquac MP Mike Allen made the announcement today.
"The mission of Skills Canada New Brunswick compliments our goal of reaching self-sufficiency by the year 2026, so we are proud to support to this great organization," Burke said. "Giving young people exposure to the skilled trades through different activities also compliments the commitments we have set out in our education plan, When Kids Come First, our vision for building the best education system in Canada."
Burke made the announcement on behalf of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Ed Doherty.
"The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible workforce in the world," Allen said. "This investment will help New Brunswick students learn about career opportunities available in skilled trades and technologies."
Allen attended on behalf of Human Resources and Social Development Minister Monte Solberg.
Skills Canada New Brunswick will receive more than $126,000 over two years through Service Canada's Youth Awareness program. Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour will support the initiative with more than $21,000 in in-kind contributions.
Since it was established in 1998, Skills Canada New Brunswick has been helping to raise awareness of the opportunities available in skilled trades and technologies to thousands of young people in New Brunswick. Through provincial competitions, in-school presentations, and other informative appearances, Skills Canada New Brunswick helps make these occupations more visible and tangible for teachers, students, and parents. The aim is to enhance the image and status of careers in skilled trades so that youth will actively seek them after high school. This project is one of many services funded through Service Canada to help people find jobs.
Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network, providing Canadians with one-stop, personalized services available by telephone at 1-800-622-6232 (1-800-O Canada), on the Service Canada website, or in person at Service Canada centres across the country.
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EDITOR'S NOTE: A backgrounder is attached. MEDIA CONTACTS: Shawn Hearn, Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, 506-453-2568; Raelene Graham-Thériault, Service Canada, communications, 506-452-3148.
Youth Awareness Program Background Information
Youth Awareness is an initiative funded under Employment Insurance (EI) Part II that complements the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. Youth Awareness projects are delivered at the national, regional, and local levels.
Youth Awareness provides financial assistance for projects designed to address labour-market issues facing communities, and can be used to develop and implement human-resource strategies to meet employers' current and future human-resource needs.
National priorities for Youth Awareness have been set to promote a pan-Canadian approach to delivering Youth Awareness projects. The following priorities were developed in collaboration with Service Canada Centres, and have been approved for fiscal year 2007-08:
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