The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour:
Mr. Speaker, as announced on April 5, applications are now being accepted for Summer Student Employment Programs.
Budget 2018 provides $6.1 million to support youth employment and career-related activities, helping youth build a brighter future right here at home. Included in this is funding for the two Summer Student Employment Programs, one for high school students and another for post-secondary students.
These programs enable young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to learn and develop new skills while making important connections with the local business community.
Applications for post-secondary students must be received by May 7. I am pleased to inform my Honourable colleagues that the wage subsidy for private sector employers hiring post-secondary students has been raised to $5.60 per hour from $5.00.
Applications for high school students must be received by May 22.
This year we are again partnering with the Community Sector Council of Newfoundland and Labrador to offer the AMPLIFY program, Assisting My Potential – Labour Market Initiative for Youth. Launched last year as a pilot program, AMPLIFY helped youth gain work experience and participate in career development and personal growth activities.
Through the Cabinet Committee on Jobs, we also continue to work with industry partners to expand the oil and gas, agriculture, aquaculture, and technology sectors by supporting career-development opportunities for youth. As part of The Way Forward, we partnered with these industries to promote economic growth and job creation, and a key part of that work is exposing young people to opportunities they can use to build their futures. Budget 2018 provides $196,000 for a new Student Mentorship Program, which is supported by federal funding, and will provide 25 youth with work experience in each of these high-growth sectors for a total of 100 jobs. We are finalizing the details of this new program and I anticipate inviting applications in the very near future.
I ask all my Honourable colleagues to join me in encouraging employers and not-for-profit organizations throughout the province to participate in these programs, helping build the province’s future workforce.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.