NEWS RELEASE
MP LLOYD LONGFIELD
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Canadian youth are one of our most crucial resources and sources of potential. That is why the Government of Canada supports youth at every stage of their journey toward a bright and prosperous future. We know that young people are eager to join the job market, but many young people still face barriers to employment that are key to financial success and personal fulfillment. Creating opportunities for youth to gain the skills and experience they need for a fair chance at success is vital to strengthening our economy, building a more inclusive country, and ensuring that no one is left behind.
Earlier this year, The Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, announced the Government is funding more than 200 new community-led projects that will transform the lives of 22,000 young people facing barriers to employment by improving their ability to find and keep good jobs.
Today in Guelph, Lloyd Longfield, Member of Parliament for Guelph, shared that Second Chance Employment (Wellington) Inc, is receiving $1,740,000.00 to assist youth facing barriers to employment. Through Ways2work at Second Chance Employment Counselling (Wellington) Inc, the project will deliver Employment Services, Employment Skills Training and Quality Employment Opportunity interventions to 20 2SLGBTQI+ youth, 100 youth with disabilities, 5 Indigenous youth, 20 newcomer youth and 75 racialized youth. The project will serve at least 50% of youth that self identify as having a disability. The project will also provide individualized supports including client assessment, case management, health and social supports, transportation, support for living expenses, disability supports and completion bonuses that will enable these youth to benefit from the interventions more fully.
Second Chance is celebrating 50 years as part of this community, providing employment supports and resources to all job seekers. Through our partners and funders with the federal, provincial, and city funders, the agency went from a small operation that focused on helping people with addictions and disabilities find employment and training opportunities, to an agency that provides supports to all job seekers. Funding from the federal government allows us to provide specialty programs for women with disabilities and youth in our community.
The projects across the country are receiving approximately $370 million over four years through Employment and Social Development Canada’s (ESDC) Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) Program, one of several programs offered under the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment and Skills Strategy. These projects will provide flexible employment services and holistic supports tailored to each individual to help them gain transferable skills that will have a lasting positive impact on their careers. For example, projects funded by the YESS Program can include mentoring, coaching, training, wraparound services (for example, dependent care support and mental health counselling) and paid work placements in a range of sectors, in order to set up every participant for individual success.
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