News & Events

Over 8,000 Canadians to benefit from job training, work experience in new projects across Canada

Gatineau, Quebec – The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced 198 new training projects aimed at helping thousands of Canadians get the skills needed to overcome barriers to employment and join the middle class.

The funding, which totals $65 million, will be provided to organizations across the country for projects to help under-represented groups, such as Indigenous people, youth, and people with disabilities, build their skills and prepare for the workforce of the future.

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.

Examples of projects include:

* Up to 50 Indigenous youth in Calgary will improve their financial literacy and workplace skills. They will attend workshops to develop their computer skills, take courses on life management and receive certificates in first aid. This will be followed by months of work experience in the not-for-profit sector, retail, food industry or trades.

* Eight youth in Plum Point, Newfoundland and Labrador will participate in employment skills workshops on topics such as teamwork and First Aid/CPR. Participants will also gain work experience in industries such as fishing, forestry and tourism.

* In Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, up to 48 youth will participate in workshops to upgrade employment skills, such as teamwork and workplace communication. They will also have the opportunity to gain work experience in industries common to the region, including agriculture and retail.

More lists of approved grants and contributions projects will be publically released periodically.

“These collaborative partnerships between community organizations and our government are helping Canadians who face extra challenges to employment. These projects will certainly help individual Canadians 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,” said The Honourable MaryAnn Mihychuk, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

Funding for these projects will be provided through the following programs: Skills Link; Career Focus; Summer Work Experience; Opportunities Fund for Persons with Disabilities; Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program; and Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training.

For example:

* A total of 164 projects will support programs and services that provide youth with job skills workshops, hands‑on experience and career development.

* Twenty-eight projects will help people with disabilities prepare for the workforce or self-employment through job skills workshops and hands-on experience.

Budget 2016 includes new investments in job creation and workforce development, including:

* $165 Million in new funding for the Youth Employment Strategy to help young people gain the skills, abilities and experience they need to find and maintain good employment

* Doubling funding in the Canada Summer Job program to hire up to 70,000 youth this summer.