The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Paul Davis, Minister Responsible for Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation:

Expanding Train for Trades Program Doubles Opportunity for Youth

Mr. Speaker, I was very pleased to attend an announcement today regarding the expansion of the Choices for Youth Train for Trades program in St. John’s.

Since 2010, Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation has been a proud partner in this worthwhile program. Train for the Trades supports at-risk youth in our community through access to valuable on-the-job construction training and experience.

This national award-winning program will now be doubling its capacity to train and employ young people through a generous donation of $2.1 million from Hibernia Management and Development Company.

This partnership and support is an excellent example of the good work and important relationships being fostered between government, industry and community groups. This is big business giving back to the community in a big way.

Mr. Speaker, as a result of this new partnership, 20 youth will take part in the 44-week program this year. This will include two weeks of training through the Carpenters Millwright College followed by 42 weeks of on-the-job experience.

Participants will help construct six new Choices for Youth affordable housing units being built for youth with complex needs. This project is made possible with an investment of $750,000 from Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation through the Affordable Housing Program.

This year, participants in the Train for Trades program will help carry out modernization and improvement work on 10 Newfoundland and Labrador Housing rental units. This is part of a pilot project in partnership with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, Local 1860.

Mr. Speaker, the Choices for Youth Train for Trades program has been very successful with 80 per cent of participants going on to post-secondary education or employment.

I ask this Honourable House to join me in congratulating Choices for Youth and all their partners on the expansion of this innovative program, and to thank Hibernia Management and Development Company for making a key investment in supporting young people in the province.

I wish all participants, past and future, the best of luck in their future endeavours.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2013 03 13                             2:15 p.m.