Yes. Thanks for the question. In my riding as well, employers and young people look forward to this every year.
This year, in 100,000 Canada summer jobs across the country, young people get an opportunity to work for employers, not-for-profit organizations, small businesses, medium-sized businesses, the public sector and the private sector. Young people earn money. Employers get the opportunity to test-run great talent and to help a young person refine and develop skills. Oftentimes, the biggest barrier for a young person is that first job. Ironically, getting that first job is a really hard thing to do. It prevents people from securing the next job.
Canada summer jobs gives young people that first employer, that first reference and that first experience. It also gives young people an opportunity to test-run a sector that they think they might like to pursue. Maybe they'll confirm their interest in that sector. I've also heard young people say, “I worked in that sector for four months. At three months, I decided it really wasn't right for me. Now I want to try something else.”
We consider Canada summer jobs an essential component to young people. It's not only in terms of their earnings; it's also their experiences and determining for themselves what their future looks like.