The following statement was issued today by Roger Grimes, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

The first Ministers' Meeting in Ottawa unanimously endorsed a vision for Canadian youth wherein "all Canadian youth participate fully in the economic opportunities for the twenty-first century."

As a province, the Departments of Education and Human Resources and Employment were pleased to contribute to the vision statement and to a youth employment action plan which set clear objectives including:

• maintaining and improving access to education and skills;
• providing more work opportunities both for those making the school/work transition, and for those who may be "at risk";
• helping youth adapt to an increasingly complex and changing labour market;
• helping youth address the social and cultural barriers that prevent full labour market participation.

In this province, our departments have been working cooperatively with the federal government through Human Resources Development Canada, the education sector, labour and employer representatives and the youth services agencies to develop a Provincial Youth Employment Strategy in conjunction with this national initiative.

An issue of considerable importance to the students of this province, both current and prospective is the level of student debt and the adequacy and inadequacy of loans programs in assisting students to be prepared for their future employment opportunities.

The premier addressed this matter with his counterparts on behalf of the students of Newfoundland and Labrador in 1996 and again this year. As well, as a member of the Council of Ministers of Education, we have addressed this matter with the federal government and stressed the need for immediate action. It has been agreed that the federal Ministers of Finance and Human Resource Development will accelerate work in concert with Provincial and Territorial Education Ministers so that the Minister of Finance can take account of this work in the upcoming Federal budget.

We are optimistic positive results will flow from this First Ministers' Meeting and will be identified in the next federal budget.