In a move to support youth employment, the Government of Canada has announced over $23 million in funding for the Youth and Employment Skills Strategy (YESS) program. This investment will support more than 35 new projects aimed at helping 1,600 youths to break through employment barriers and secure work opportunities, according to a press release.
The announcement was made at Huddle NorWest youth hub in Winnipeg on Feb. 27 by the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth, the Honourable Terry Duguid, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, and Kevin Lamoureux, Member of Parliament for Winnipeg North.
Martha Peet, an Inuit Elder who has worked with NorWest, led an opening prayer.
Peet said, “the Huddle here in Winnipeg is very important, and I see so many youths come here after school and during the summer, they do crafts, they mix with each other. It gives them the chance to do something together.
“A lot of them are classmates, a lot of them have known each other their whole lives,” she added. “So, its really important, the Huddle. It remains a big part of NorWest. And it gives the youth a chance.”
The Huddle offers various supports to youth aged 12 to 29, including counselling, workshops, employment support and primary health care.
“Canada is strongest when everyone gets a fair shot at success,” stated Minister Ien. “Opportunity isn’t a privilege, it’s a right and as a government, we have a responsibility to ensure that every young person has the support they need to thrive.”
“This additional investment will play a huge role in helping youth overcome barriers, gain skills, build the confidence to step into the workforce and shape their own future.”
There are currently four organizations in Winnipeg with YESS projects underway — including NorWest Co-op Community Health. The remaining organizations with the youth-support program include the Elmwood Community Resource Centre, the Momentum Centre Inc. and Pluri-elles (Manitoba) Inc., according to a press release from the federal government.
Additional YESS projects in Winnipeg are set to launch later this year.
These organizations will provide opportunities for 315 youth facing barriers in the city, such as providing them with the skills and experiences they need in order to be successful in the job market. Through the YESS program initiative and funding, young people will overcome barriers to employment through a range of training activities, entailing mentoring, coaching, training, wraparound services and paid work placements in diverse industries.
Duguid highlighted the broader impact of the initiative. “This investment in the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy is a real boost for youth in Winnipeg,” he stated. “It’s not just about creating jobs, it’s about giving young people the skills and confidence they need to thrive.
“I’m proud to see these local organizations step up and help shape a stronger future for our community,” he said
According to the Government of Canada, in 2024, youth aged 15 to 24 had an unemployment rate of 13.2 per cent compared to 5.4 per cent for adults aged 25 to 54.
Underrepresented groups face additional challenges, with unemployment rates reaching 16.2 per cent for racialized youth, 21.5 per cent for Black youth, 17.7 per cent for Indigenous youth and in 2023, 15.8 per cent for youth with disabilities, per the federal government.
This additional funding contributes to the government’s $370 million commitment announced in July 2024 for over 200 projects, bringing the total YESS investment to over $393 million for 2024-28.
The initiative aligns with the federal government’s goal of creating 90,000 youth job placements and employment support opportunities for the 2025-26 fiscal year, according to a press release.
