Thanks for this opportunity.
I'm speaking as executive director, but in fact I'm speaking on behalf of the 175 youth employment centres serving organizations in British Columbia, another 120 community social services in British Columbia, the Ontario Association of Youth Employment Centres, and an additional 35 youth-serving organizations across Canada.
Our recommendation is that the federal government renew the terms and conditions for the Skills Link program in 2010 and increase the level of funding allocated to Skills Link programming to twice the present level, given the crisis of youth unemployment in the economic downturn.
What will that achieve? It will help reduce the drag on GDP caused by unemployed, at-risk youth who are drawing on criminal justice, alcohol and drug counselling, alternate education, and income assistance services. At-risk youth who successfully attach to the labour market will positively contribute to the national GDP. They'll provide employers the opportunity to tap an untapped pool of young Canadian workers in an increasingly challenging labour market. It will provide employees an opportunity to give back to the community, creating a triple bottom line for participating businesses. We are in full partnership with the private sector on this matter. Finally, it will provide the appropriate interventions to assist at-risk youth in developing the essential skills needed for a long-term attachment to the labour force.