National Association Responds to Speech from the Throne

Throne Speech offers improved youth access to workforce, if the initiatives are ever implemented.
Wednesday October 16, 2013 – the Canadian Association of Career Educators and Employers (CACEE) credits the Government for youth employment initiatives included in the Throne Speech, but we question whether all, or any, of the initiatives will be implemented.

Graduates of Canada’s colleges and universities face unacceptable rates of unemployment and underemployment while Canada’s employers report shortages of individuals with the skills they seek. The Government has acknowledged this unacceptable situation in the Speech form the Throne, and is offering several initiatives in response, including a renewed commitment to the Canada Jobs Grant, a program that CACEE supports in principle.

“But the Canada Jobs Grant has been rejected by practically every provincial legislature because it is tied to a significant cut to existing federal – provincial agreements.” Paul Smith, CACEE Executive Director explains. “And small businesses may not be able to access the Grant because cash is king. To work, the Jobs Grant must be a direct subsidy, not a tax credit. Without an acceptable agreement, two of the three partners required in the Grant are not on board.”

Regardless of these reservations, CACEE is still pleased by the announcement of new initiatives that will help young people to acquire valuable work experience, support apprentices as they pursue training, and address gaps in the Temporary Foreign Workers Program. We are similarly pleased to see particular attention turned toward First Nations youth. Movement on these fronts will help resolve the unemployment and underemployment of educated young Canadians.

Paul Smith, CACEE Executive Director explains “As Canada’s national network of educators and employers, our members are front line witnesses to the lost potential of unemployed and underemployed youth. They also experience the frustration of trying to fill good jobs in the face of talent scarcity. The announced initiatives will help, but only if they are implemented in a cooperative framework.”

About CACEE CACEE is a national non-profit partnership of employer recruiters and career services professionals. Our mission is to provide professional networking and development opportunities, information, advice, and other services to employers and career service professionals.
For more info contact Paul Smith at pauls@cacee.com or at (613) 634-2359.

For a PDF of this media release, please click here.