NLIS 8
May 11, 2000
(Human Resources and Employment)

I am pleased to tell you about an exciting new partnership that my department has started with Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador, and Human Resources Development Canada.

It�s a partnership that will not only help young people find employment in the tourism industry, but will educate them about career planning, professionalism and customer service.

Tourism Careers for Youth is a national youth internship program that helps prepare young people between the ages 18-29 for jobs in the tourism industry. It�s an initiative of the Canadian Tourism Human Resources Council, coordinated by Hospitality Newfoundland and Labrador. My department along with HRDC is providing funding for the program.

Tourism Careers for Youth features a mix of classroom and on-the-job training that provides young people with the skills, knowledge, attitudes and experience required for long-term stable employment in tourism.

The funding that my department is providing amounts to about $130,000 and comes through NewfoundJOBS, the program for income support clients that helps them acquire the skills and training they need to enter or return to the workforce.

The central region is piloting this new partnership in Bonavista, Clarenville and Marystown, with about 35 young people taking part. Our employees are telling us that the project is going very well and there is talk about expanding it into other parts of the province.

Tourism Careers for Youth includes a three week classroom component, and then a job placement. Young people perform their own job search, but they are also supported by a program coordinator.

These young people are then hired for up to six months in entry level tourism occupations, with local businesses receiving 50 per cent in wage subsidies, or 60 per cent for non profit organizations through NewfoundJOBS.

Young people are not only learning about the tourism industry, they�re developing career planning and job search skills that are transferable, whether or not they choose to remain in tourism or pursue a different career path.

We all know how important the tourism industry is to our local economy, and we all know how important it is to educate and train our young people for careers that will allow them to remain here in Newfoundland and Labrador.

My department is committed to helping our young people find employment here in this province. We�re spending $7.5 million this year on youth employment programs that will serve over 3,500 post-secondary students and youth.

I look forward to keeping you updated on the Tourism Careers for Youth project, and other important youth employment initiatives.

2000 05 11                                                     2:30 p.m.