GODERICH, ONTARIO — A post-secondary graduate will get the opportunity to enhance and develop his or her job skills through the Government of Canada’s support for a youth employment project. Mr. Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for Huron–Bruce, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“In today’s environment, it is more important than ever that youth develop the skills they need to participate and succeed in the job market,” said Mr. Lobb. “Our government is proud to support projects that offer post-secondary graduates the opportunity to develop the skills and gain the experience that will help them reach their full potential.”

“The support of the Government of Canada’s Career Focus program creates a positive opportunity for Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority to develop young post-graduate student’s practical job skills, in the environmental and mapping fields,” said Tom Prout, General Manager and Secretary Treasurer of the ABCA. “The funding also makes it possible for ABCA to do additional beneficial work we would not have the resources to do otherwise.”

With assistance from the federal Career Focus program, the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority will hire a post-secondary graduate to work as a Mapping Technologist. The graduate will receive orientation training from the organization then will be assigned regular projects and tasks that will develop skills.

Backrounder

As part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, the Career Focus program is one of three programs that help young Canadians, particularly those facing barriers to employment, obtain career information, develop skills, gain work experience, find good jobs and stay employed. The other two programs are Summer Work Experience and Skills Link.

Career Focus links young post-secondary graduates with potential employers who can provide them with career-related work experience and help them acquire advanced employment skills to facilitate their transition into the rapidly changing labour market.

Through the 2010 “Jobs and Growth Budget,” the Government of Canada committed an additional $60 million to the Skills Link and Career Focus programs. This additional one-time investment will enable more young Canadians to gain the experience and skills they need to successfully participate in the labour market while the economy recovers.

Youth employment programs are also part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to create the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. The Government underscored its commitment to this strategy in Canada’s Economic Action Plan. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development. To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

The Career Focus program is delivered by Service Canada, which provides one-stop personalized services for Government of Canada programs, services and benefits. For more information about this program, visit www.servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1 800 O‑Canada or drop by your local Service Canada Centre.