Parliamentary Secretary announces youth funding in Saskatoon

This morning, Dr. Kellie Leitch, Parliamentary Secretary to Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley, was in our Saskatoon offices to announce that the federal government was launching Calls for Proposals to deliver $50 million in funding for the Youth Employment Strategy.

STEC Manager of HR Development Darcy Acton,
Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Kellie Leitch, and
Tourism Saskatchewan Industry Development
Manager Ian McGilp pose for a photo following
Wednesday's announcement in Saskatoon.
(Photo: Service Canada)

We were happy to be part of today's announcement. STEC has been helping our province’s tourism and hospitality employers recruit, train and retain a professional, skilled workforce for more than 20 years.

For most of that time, Ready To Work – Tourism Careers has been an important component of our service delivery.

Since 1994, more than 40 communities and three thousand youth have participated in Ready to Work in Saskatchewan.

Graduates have found long-term rewarding careers, returned to school, and moved from front-line to supervisory positions.

In fact, of the 300 participants who went through the program last year, 80 per cent are still employed.

We're able to get those remarkable results because of the support we receive from federal programs such as those announced today, as well at the valuable support we receive from our provincial and community partners.

That support makes it possible for people from under-represented groups to make the transition from unemployment or under-employment to the workforce. In addition to tourism, a valuable contributor to our provincial economy, participants also find work in mining and other significant economic sectors.

We currently have four RTW projects running in Saskatchewan: Saskatoon, Lloydminster, Regina, and La Ronge.