The federal government is providing more than $2 million to support skills training for local youth, Sudbury MP Paul Lefebvre announced April 25.
The announcement, on behalf of the Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, is for training projects aimed at helping young Sudburians get the skills needed to overcome barriers to employment and join the middle class.
“These collaborative partnerships between community organizations and our government are helping Canadians who face extra challenges to employment,” Lefebvre said.
“These projects will certainly help individual Sudburians gain the skills, abilities and work experience they need to find and maintain good employment, and they will also help strengthen and grow Canada’s middle class.”
Many of the projects will provide instruction in to develop or enhance skills, such as workplace safety, as well as offer hands-on experience in a job category of interest, such as a skilled trade, retail, hospitality, the food industry or business services.
Sudbury projects are:
Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training
Collège Boréal
$1,373,343
Youth – Career Focus
Collège Boréal
$328,144
Youth – Skills Link
March of Dimes Canada
$420,792
Youth – Skills Link
Sudbury Action Centre for Youth
$115,930
“Thanks to the Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training funding, we will be able to expand on our French-language course and program offering through blended and flexible learning experiences accessible to all,” said Pierre Riopel, President of Collège Boréal.
“This should lead to growth in Red Seal certified tradespeople, both women and men who can become part of a qualified skilled workforce. Moreover, the Youth-Career Focus funds will help us continue to develop activities allowing young graduates to make better career choices, develop new skills and benefit from work experiences.”
Catherine Savarie, Executive Director of The Sudbury Action Centre for Youth, is thrilled to be able to offer the Skills Link Program through the agency.
“Youth services will be expanded by the reintroduction of the federally funded Skills Link program which is part of the Youth Employment Strategy. Skills Link provides funding for employers and organizations to assist youth facing barriers to employment,” Savarie said.
Janine Roy, regional employment services manager for the March of Dimes, says the funding will be used to teach employment skills in a classroom setting.
“The Achieving Success Program will welcome it’s first group on May 18. In total March of Dimes Canada will host five sessions in Sudbury and two sessions in North Bay,” Roy said.
“Youth will then have an opportunity to apply their newly acquired skills in a 14-week competitive work experience placement with the goal of maintaining competitive employment beyond the placement.”
