PLESSISVILLE, Quebec — Christian Paradis, Secretary of State (Agriculture) and Member of Parliament for Mégantic–L’Érable, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today announced funding for Impact Emploi de l’Érable to support two projects that will help young people in the Mégantic–L’Érable area improve their employability.

“The Government of Canada is committed to creating the best educated, most skilled, and most flexible work force in the world,” said Mr. Paradis. “Through these two projects, the young participants from the Mégantic–L’Érable region will gain work and group experiences and acquire the social and professional skills they need to find and maintain a job.”

The more than $168,000 in funding that Impact Emploi de l’Érable is receiving will support two projects to help youth in Mégantic–L’Érable:
The FRESQUE project will allow 8 young people to participate in the creation of a fresco celebrating the 150th anniversary of the municipality of Sainte-Sophie-d’Halifax. The fresco will adorn the wall of a building in the city, and will testify to the potential that these young people have to offer.
Through the Impact Emploi – Expérience emploi 2008–2009 project, 14 young people will have the chance to acquire practical work experience for 20 to 26 weeks.

Since 1998, Impact Emploi, a non-profit organization that promotes employability, has offered services in the municipality of L’Érable . Thanks to its multidisciplinary team, the organization helps young people take part in employment projects and undertake work-experience placements.

Service Canada is funding this project through its Skills Link program, part of the Youth Employment Strategy, which helps youth facing barriers to employment obtain the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to participate in the work force.

Skills Link is one of three Government of Canada programs for youth. The two others are Summer Work Experience and Career Focus. These programs offer a range of activities to meet each participant’s needs.

Service Canada brings Government of Canada services and benefits together in a single delivery network. It provides Canadians with one-stop service they can access however they choose—by phone at 1 800 O-Canada, on the Internet at servicecanada.gc.ca, or in person at Service Canada Centres across the country.