Gatineau, Quebec: Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, Marci Ien, has highlighted more than $9 million in investments helping more than 270 youth, in particular gender diverse youth.
The funding is being provided through the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YESS) program.
Through YESS, the Government of Canada helps young people, particularly those facing barriers to employment, get the information and gain the skills, work experience and abilities they need to make a successful transition into the labour market. These investments include two projects taking place in Alberta and Ontario.
The Open Door project, based in Alberta received $1.3 million in funding for their project The Open Door Youth Employment and Skills Development Program. This project is helping 80 2SLGBTQI+ youth in securing sustainable, meaningful employment by developing their skills, and connecting them with supports that will impact their capacity to secure and maintain their employment from youth to adulthood.
Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak (LFMO) – Women of the Métis Nation, based in Ontario, received $8 million in funding for their Reach for the Sky initiative. This initiative offers opportunities to 198 youth to develop a distinctions-based, gender sensitive, youth-centric curriculum on leadership, job readiness and employment training.
Minister Ien said: “We should also remember that gender-diverse communities have significantly contributed to the social fabric of Canada, and have been at the forefront of advancing gender equality.”
• In 2020, the Government of Canada invested $492 million over three years, through Employment and Social Development Canada’s YESS program, for 269 projects, to help young people facing barriers to employment. In 2020 the Government increased funding of up to $187.7 million to create 9,500 more work opportunities for young Canadians.