Every summer, the Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) Initiative helps create jobs for secondary and post-secondary students. This year, the federal government provided $625,000 for youth employment in the Kootenay-Columbia riding.
Because programs like CSJ help to bolster local economies, MP Wayne Stetski said in a media release he took an active role in establishing priorities beneficial to his riding and allocating funds accordingly.
“I prioritized funding for as many as 210 student jobs in the riding and gave particular consideration to communities with low rates of youth employment,” said Stetski.
Stetski’s local priorities echo those of past years: tourism, technology, arts and culture, the environment and food security. For 2018 he paid special attention to those projects employing the disabled, indigenous, or ethnic minorities. The Member of Parliament has assigned grants to eligible not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers, as well as small businesses.
The NDP MP has requested additional funds as they become available to ensure that even more jobs are created. He has supported funding for 151 projects throughout the region.
Stetksi stressed that the program also is about helping our young people to acquire valuable experience and workplace skills.
“I assessed each employer on the quality of the project proposed and the experience offered to the student, not on the values of the organization,” said Stetski. “I remain hopeful that in 2019 the Liberal government will take this view and drop their controversial requirement for an attestation as to the applicant’s mandate.”