News

Good News For Youth In Northern Ontario

June 22, 2010

McGuinty Government’s NOHFC Program Investing in Students to Build Highly Skilled Work Force

Sault Ste. Marie – More than 300 youth across northern Ontario are getting on-site experience and career training in a wide variety of trades, business and other professional disciplines through internship and co-op placements, David Orazietti MPP announced today.

"This investment will help students in Sault Ste. Marie gain hands on experience that compliments their academic studies and encourages them to explore future opportunities in the north, while providing a boost to the local economy," said Orazietti. "We recognize the importance of helping young people gain practical work experience to prepare them to be future leaders in our community."

Through support from the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) employers receive wage subsidies to hire students or recent graduates so they can train for future careers. These youth internship and co-op placements are part of the Open Ontario Plan to create jobs and economic growth in northern Ontario.

Ontario has invested an additional $5.5 million between October, 2009 and May, 2010 in the NOHFC’s Internship and Co-op Placement Program. Since the program was introduced in January, 2005 over $32 million has been allocated to support youth as they build their careers and prepare for future opportunities in the North.

Last year, employers in Sault Ste. Marie received a total of $1,167,167 for 69 internship and co-op placements. Some of the local employers offering youth internships included organizations such as: Child Care Algoma, Sault Symphony Association, ARCH Hospice, and the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre. Since launching the program in 2005, the McGuinty government has provided more than $3.4 million for 182 placements in Sault Ste. Marie.

In addition to the NOHFC Internship and Co-op Placement Program the provincial government recently announced that it will provide funding for 700 additional jobs for students through Ontario’s Summer Jobs Service Program, bringing the total to as many as 6,200 jobs in forestry, tourism, retail and other sectors in the North.

Ontario’s Summer Jobs Service Program makes it possible for employers to hire students through its incentive program, in turn providing opportunities for youth to develop important knowledge and skills through hands-on experiences in northern Ontario. Ontario's summer jobs programs and services are open to students aged 15 to 30 years who are planning to return to school this fall. Through Employment Ontario's Summer Jobs website, students can learn about provincial summer employment programs.