Province funds summer jobs for youth

The Ontario government has announced $500,000 in funding to support programs aimed at providing summer employment and training opportunities to Aboriginal youth.

The money, announced by Minister of Natural Resources and Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay on June 27, will be divided between two programs, the Aboriginal Youth Work Exchange Pilot Program and the First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program.

The Aboriginal Youth Work Exchange Pilot Program will provide Aboriginal youth with advanced training, job skills and experience to prepare them for possible careers in natural resources or within the provincial public service. Twenty placements will be created?10 in northeastern Ontario and 10 in the northwestern portion of the province.

Students chosen to take part will spend eight weeks in the program for three consecutive summers.

The First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program is designed to prepare First Nations youth for potential careers in forest or natural resource sectors. The program has been running since 2000 and has already provided training and summer employment to 165 youth. The newly announced money will fund placements for 30 youth this year and another 30 next summer.