OTTAWA GETS EXPANDED SUMMER JOBS PROGRAM FOR YOUTH

McGuinty Government Creating Opportunities for At-Risk Youth

This summer, 240 youth from disadvantaged neighbourhoods are getting the chance to gain valuable work experience.

The jobs are being offered through the Summer Jobs for Youth program, a component of Ontario’s Youth Opportunities Strategy, which helps at-risk youth gain skills and experience with local employers. The province has doubled the number of jobs available through the program – bringing the total to over 4,000 across the province.

In Ottawa, we have increased the total investment for the Summer Jobs for Youth program to $830,273, creating 240 jobs. This is an increase of $239,034 in funding.

The Summer Jobs for Youth program is run by the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa (YSB), and this expansion has meant that they can recruit 60 more youth for placements with employers across the city.

The YSB is one of the largest and most comprehensive non-profit charitable agencies serving youth in Ottawa. With 20 locations across the city, YSB supports young people as they resolve complex issues affecting their physical and emotional well-being.

Expanding the Youth Opportunities Strategy is part of the McGuinty government’s poverty reduction strategy, which sets a target of reducing the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over 5 years – that’s 90,000 kids.

QUOTES

“This program is about creating opportunities and giving youth the chance to succeed,” said Yasir Naqvi, MPP for Ottawa Centre. “By giving these kids the chance to gain meaningful employment, we are giving them the tools they need to be successful in the future.”

“The Youth Services Bureau is very proud to be partnering with the Province of Ontario to help young people take their first step into the workplace,” said YSB Executive Director Alex Munter. “This program transforms the talent and energy of young people into opportunities for youth, for their communities and for the employers that so generously open their doors.”

QUICK FACTS

§In 2008, nearly 2,000 youth across the province gained valuable skills and experience through the Youth Opportunities Strategy.

§In 2009-2010, the total investment for the Youth Opportunities Strategy is more than $21 million, nearly double last year’s investment. The federal government is supporting part of this expansion.