Federal government helps youth in the Greater Toronto Area find work

Daniel Hoffmann (Youth Program Coordinator), Moorthi Senaratne (FoodShare Youth Program Graduate), Debbie Field (Executive Director FoodShare), David Tilson (M.P., Dufferin-Caledon), Theresa Rodrigues, and Tarry Steckly (FoodShare Youth Program Student).

Dufferin - Caledon MP David Tilson, on behalf of Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Monte Solberg, recently announced a funding package for 16 projects designed to help atrisk youth in the Greater Toronto Area obtain employment or return to school.

Tilson made the announcement while visiting the warehouse of FoodShare Toronto, one of the 16 community organizations that will receive funding. At FoodShare Toronto, young people who face multiple barriers to employment are participating in a program involving hands-on work experience and employability workshops.

"The government of Canada is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world," said Tilson. "Our partnership with these community organizations will help local youth who face barriers to employment get the skills, knowledge, and experience they need to take advantage of the job market."

The government's contribution of nearly $6 million in funding to these 16 projects will be aimed at helping young people facing barriers to employment find careerrelated job experience, return to school or acquire the skills they need to jumpstart their careers. Participants in the programs will become better equipped to secure and maintain employment or access educational opportunities.

These projects are funded through Skills Link, one of Canada's youth employment programs. Under the program, local employers and community organizations work together to ensure young people have the opportunity to develop their skills and contribute to their communities.

The government is committed to improving opportunities for youth, as part of an ongoing effort to build a strong, vibrant Canadian work force, Tilson stated. The goal is to make Canada a place where meaningful, long-term employment opportunities are standard, and where the work force is trained to meet the requirements of modern businesses.

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