The Provincial Government is investing $2.7 million this year to support approximately 2,000 student positions through 1,622 employment sites in the province. This includes $2 million for post-secondary students through both the paid employment and community service components of the Student Work and Service Program (SWASP). As well, the Provincial Government is providing $584,000 to support young people in high school through the Level I, II and III Student Employment Program.

"I am pleased that we have over 1,200 SWASP positions approved this year," said the Honourable Shawn Skinner, Minister of Human Resources, Labour and Employment. "This program enables our young people to gain valuable exposure to the labour market as well as providing a $50 per week of employment tuition voucher for the upcoming school year."

The SWASP paid employment component provides work opportunities with private sector employers. The SWASP community service component provides students with employment within non-profit and community-based sector organizations throughout the province.

The Level I, II and III Student Employment Program provides community-based work opportunities for high school students. Over 600 students are currently employed on 486 projects throughout the province. Students are employed with community improvement agencies, service organizations, recreational activities and local tourism sites.

The Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment, in response to the changes made this year by Service Canada to the federal government�s student employment program, actively facilitated the restoration of funding for affected groups and organizations. Through an ongoing effort by provincial officials, the case was effectively made on behalf of the many groups adversely impacted by the federal funding decision to have funding restored.

Following this, a number of groups remain in need of funding support. The department exercised its option to provide one-time funding this year to close the student employment gap.

"On behalf of hundreds of affected groups, we quickly moved to voice our displeasure and take concrete action to bring the matter forward to the attention of federal officials and see to it that they corrected the situation," said Minister Skinner. "I was pleased that we prevailed in having the federal government reconsider and reverse these decisions, and in those cases that remain outstanding, our government stepped up to ensure that any outstanding need was addressed."

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Media contact:

Stephen Byrne
Communications Specialist
Department of Human Resources, Labour and Employment
709-729-6156
stephenbyrne@gov.nl.ca 

2007 07 11                                                    10:10 a.m.