Two City of Toronto agencies who aim to help prepare more than 1,000 youth overcome barriers to entering the labour market were on the receiving end of $1.9 million in federal funding this week. Federal MP Mike Wallace announced the funding on behalf of the Ministry of Human Resources and Skills Development July 8, saying, "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."
The funding will go to two programs: the
Toronto Youth Job Corps, which helps unemployed, out-of-school youth with a combination of training and job placement (while paying them for participating); and
Youth Employment Toronto, an outreach program that sees workers find youth in places they congregate and refer them to appropriate resources to help them find employment and training.
Mayor David Miller said in a statement that the funding will "provide young people with the resources and work experience they require to get started on their chosen path."
Both of the programs aim to serve youth who are, in the words of the federal government, "facing barriers to employment, such as single parents, Aboriginal youth, young persons with disabilities, recent immigrants ... youth who have dropped out of high school."
Writer: Edward Keenan
Source: Michelle Bakos, Press Secretary, Office of Minister Daine Finley
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