Canada Summer Jobs 2018 Hiring Season Kicks Off: more than 5,100 jobs available for students in Lower Mainland

From: Employment and Social Development Canada

Government of Canada funds work experience for local students

May 14, 2018 Lower Mainland, British Columbia Employment and Social Development Canada

A strong middle class and a growing economy depend on young Canadians getting the skills and work experience they need to succeed. That’s why the Government of Canada has doubled the number of jobs created through the Canada Summer Jobs program since 2015, creating meaningful, paid work experience for almost 70,000 students per year.

Today at the Semiahmoo House Society, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, accompanied by Gordie Hogg, Member of Parliament for South Surrey—White Rock, announced that the hiring season for Canada Summer Jobs 2018 has begun and employers are now accepting applications. Here in Lower Mainland, the Government of Canada is funding more than 5,100 jobs for local students.

Once again this summer, tens of thousands of students across Canada aged 15 to 30 will get great job opportunities while earning money to help pay for next year’s tuition. The Government of Canada invites young Canadians to visit Canada.ca/Canada-Summer-Jobs to connect with employers who are hiring in their communities. This year, for the first time, students can search for employers by province or territory, municipality or postal code, so they can apply to employers in their community.

This year, more than 3,000 employers are first‑time funding recipients, ensuring thousands of fresh new experiences for young Canadians. This year’s jobs fulfill five national priorities, designated by the Government of Canada, including:

• employers who intend to hire youth from underrepresented groups, including youth who are new immigrants and refugees, Indigenous youth, youth with disabilities and visible minorities;
• small businesses, in recognition of their contribution to the creation of jobs;
• organizations that support opportunities for official language minority communities;
• organizations that provide services and/or supports to the LGBTQ2 community; and
• organizations that provide opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and information and in communications technology, particularly for women.

A summer job helps students gain new skills and valuable work experience while saving money for the school year ahead. Thanks to Canada Summer Jobs, young Canadians from across the country will be able to access thousands of job opportunities with small businesses, not-for-profit organizations and the public sector.

Quotes

“Canada’s young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are leaders today. That’s why our government is focused on ensuring more young Canadians get the skills and training they need to succeed and Canada Summer Jobs is an incredibly important program for helping young people achieve this. Providing students with opportunities for paid, meaningful work experience, helps ensure they have a fair shot at success.”

– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“Creating jobs for young Canadians is a win-win for everyone. Students are able to develop their skills and gain valuable workplace experience while earning money for their tuition, employers benefit from new energy and ideas, and our economy thrives by ensuring a healthy middle class.”

– Gordie Hogg, Member of Parliament for Member of Parliament for South Surrey—White Rock

“Semiahmoo House Society very much appreciates the Canada Summer Jobs program. It enables us to do activities and projects we might not have been able to do without the extra staffing. The students have been able to experience our line of work and many have enjoyed their time with us so much that once school is over, they intend to seek regular employment with us. The Program greatly assists our recruiting efforts and helps to showcase the valuable work in our sector and its potential as worthwhile career.”

– Stephanie Green, Director of Human Resources, Semiahmoo House Society

Quick facts

• Not-for-profit employers are eligible to receive funding for up to 100 % of the minimum hourly wage. Small businesses with 50 or fewer employees and public-sector employers can receive up to 50 % of the minimum hourly wage.
• Canada Summer Jobs is part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy. Since 2005, the Youth Employment Strategy has helped over 900,000 young people gain the skills and work experience they need to find and keep good-quality jobs.
• Each year, the Government invests over $330 million in the Youth Employment Strategy. Budget 2016 announced an additional investment of $339 million over three years. This was followed by an additional investment of $395.5 million over three years in Budget 2017. These investments are helping:o   more than 33,000 vulnerable youth develop the skills they need to find work or go back to school;o   create 15,000 new green jobs for young Canadians; and

  o   provide over 1,600 new employment opportunities for youth in the heritage sector.

• In 2017, the Government of Canada helped create nearly 70,000 summer job opportunities for students, which is double the number created through Canada Summer Jobs in 2015.
• Budget 2018 announced an investment of $448.5 million over five years to the Youth Employment Strategy. This funding will support the continued doubling of the number of Canada Summer Jobs opportunities in 2019.

Contacts

Emily Harris
Senior Communications Advisor
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
Emily.k.harris@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
819-654-5611

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

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