May 13, 2019 Toronto, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada's continued prosperity depends on young Canadians launching meaningful careers. By helping them gain the skills and experience they need for a fair chance at success, we are investing in our greatest asset-our people.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced $2.9 million for A Way Home Canada, a national organization dedicated to preventing and ending youth homelessness in Canada. This funding will support more than 1,300 youth in Ontario and Alberta in gaining the skills they need to join the labour market and ensure housing stabilization. Activities include employment training, career counselling and job matching.
Improvements to the Youth Employment Strategy since 2015 have resulted in over 220,000 youth finding good‑quality jobs or youth improving their skills
"One of the most important roles that a government can play in a country is ensuring that everyone has a fair chance to succeed while acknowledging that we don't all come into this world with the same assets. That's why our government is investing in projects like A Way Home, which sees the full potential of each young Canadian, and supplies the tools for each one to participate in society to the fullest. This isn't just the right thing to do. It is, for me, a moral imperative."
- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
"Dr. Stephen Gaetz and I are honoured to have the support of the Youth Employment Strategy to continue our work with community partners across Ontario and Alberta to provide innovative services to young people and their families. This work not only prevents and/or ends their experience of homelessness, but helps to ensure outcomes beyond housing, such as well-being, social inclusion, and attachment or reattachment to education, training and employment."
- Melanie Redman, President & CEO of A Way Home: Working Together to End Youth Homelessness in Canada
Quick facts
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Today's announcement brings the total investment to A Way Home Canada under the Youth Employment Strategy (YES) to almost $11 million.
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Budget 2019 proposes to invest $49.5 million to support the ongoing modernization of the YES. This builds on investments in Budget 2016, 2017 and 2018 in the YES to help youth people gain the skills and work they need to find and maintain good employment.
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The YES is currently being modernized, informed by the recommendations of the Expert Panel on Youth Employment and extensive engagement with youth, service delivery organizations and other stakeholders.
