Press Release

November 10, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ROY CULLEN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR ETOBICOKE NORTH TO ANNOUNCE CANADA'S SUPPORT FOR YOUTH EMPLOYABILITY PROJECT "BREAKING THE CYCLE" Etobicoke - On Wednesday, November 12th, 2004, Mr. Roy Cullen, Member of Parliament for Etobicoke North, on behalf of the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development, will announce funding of $279,980 for a youth project by the Canadian Training Institute that will help 14 youth develop employability skills. "The Government of Canada is pleased to support a project that will help young people access the resources and obtain the support they need to integrate into the labour market or return to school," said Mr. Cullen. "This project will also increase awareness of youth issues in the community and encourage other youth to take advantage of available youth services." "This is a community crime prevention project that will pay dividends down the road by getting young people out of gang life and into jobs as productive citizens with a future," said the Honourable Wayne Easter, Solicitor General of Canada. The Breaking the Cycle of Gang Development Project will provide 14 unemployed youth with the opportunity to develop and upgrade their employability skills and gain experience by developing community dialogue sessions. As peer information ambassadors, the participants will deliver 80 information sessions to the community and other at-risk and younger youth. The sessions will help to enhance awareness and use of youth employment and vocational services in the community. The information sessions will help the participants develop valuable employment skills that can be transferred to the labour market while, at the same time, educate other community youth on the importance of personal skill development and the alternatives to violence. "This project will greatly assist in the fight against crime, drugs, and gangs in Etobicoke North," said Mr. Cullen. In addition to Human Resources Development Canada's contribution of $279,980, the Solicitor General's office is contributing $62,000 towards this project. …/2 This project supports the Government of Canada's Youth Employment Strategy. In April 2003, the Government of Canada streamlined its Youth Employment Strategy to be more responsive to the changing needs of youth, employers and the Canadian job market. The streamlined Youth Employment Strategy now offers three focused programs: Skills Link, Summer Work Experience and Career Focus. These programs provide flexibility to choose from a range of activities that can be tailored to meet individual needs; ensure that youth acquire skills and work experience they need to find and keep a job and have the information they need to make informed career choices; and provide post-secondary graduates with career-related work experience to help them become leaders in their field. The Youth Employment Strategy is a key element of the Government of Canada's Innovation and Learning Strategy which aims to ensure that Canada has a highly qualified and skilled labour force to meet the job market needs of today and tomorrow. Funding for this project was provided for in the February 2003 federal Budget. This project has been reviewed to ensure compliance with the Department's administration of its grant and contribution programs. PROJECT SUMMARY- Government of Canada funding through the Youth Employment Strategy: $279,980- Government of Canada funding through the Solicitor General's Office: $62,000- Number of participants: 14- Total project cost: $341,980- Objective: help develop the employability skills of 14 youth participants For further information, please contact: Mr. David Cuddemi, Office Manager Roy Cullen, M.P. Etobicoke North E-mail: Roycullen0@rogers.com