Evidence of meeting #84 for Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities in the 44th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was students.
A video is available from Parliament.
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Mr. Chair, I request that the minister provide this committee with a report to outline how applications are reviewed and scored, and clarify how they are prioritized for funding so that there's a clear understanding of how the process works.
Do I need unanimous consent? If so, I would ask for unanimous consent for that information.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
I see a consensus. Do you want me to direct that in a letter to the minister so it comes back for the record?
Liberal
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Are we okay with that? It's to get an outline so that everybody has a good understanding of how the program works. I think a little information would be very helpful—
Liberal
Tony Van Bynen Liberal Newmarket—Aurora, ON
Yes, it's on the point system, how they're scored and how they're reviewed.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
I'll have the clerk prepare that and share it with the committee members for comment before it's sent.
Liberal
Liberal
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
Thank you so much.
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Welcome, Mr. Jones and Mr. Emmanuel. Thank you for being here today.
I know Mr. Jones from my work at the Toronto District School Board, but also at the ministry of children and youth services. I was surprised to see him here today. I didn't know he was coming.
I'm so happy to see you, because I know you'll bring a lot of value to this discussion. I know some of the work you do is among the best, not only in the city of Toronto but throughout this country, when it comes to building opportunities for young people in some challenging neighbourhoods. I want to say thank you for all the work you're doing—both of you—because I know you've changed lives.
Mr. Jones, I know you mentioned that prolonging the program might be a way to improve the overall opportunity that the Canada student jobs program brings. Are there any other recommendations that you can provide to the committee on how we can improve the program overall to better meet the needs of your program?
Founding Director, Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education
Definitely. Hiring young people earlier definitely makes sense. In addition to that, the duration could be somewhat longer, like the level of flexibility that was afforded the program during COVID. That was somewhat viable. In communities where you have high unemployment rates, it really would do the program justice if we could definitely hire year-round. I can't speak enough to that. We have kids coming up to us on a daily basis looking for work, especially in a neighbourhood like the one we work in. It has the highest rate of crime and gang involvement in the country, and young people are looking for another viable alternative. The fact is that, if we can hire year-round, that would definitely help.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
I remember a report you put out a few years ago that said that $70 million was spent in the Jane and Finch community, and another $70 million in the Lawrence Heights community on policing, incarcerating people in those neighbourhoods. That's separately, $70 million each. That was a report from about seven years ago.
Founding Director, Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education
Yes.
Liberal
Michael Coteau Liberal Don Valley East, ON
These investments, I think, make a difference in communities. Rather than spend money at the tail end of a cycle, you “up front” the money and give young people opportunity. It makes sense to invest more. Compared with other programs out there, such as the focus on youth program and others you may use, is this program...?
Ms Chabot's purpose in doing this study is for us to learn more about what's happening on the ground, make recommendations and make the program better. We're not here to cut the program. We're here to review it and make improvements.
Is there anything else we can do to improve this program, in comparison to other programs like the Ontario focus on youth program?
Founding Director, Youth Association for Academics, Athletics, and Character Education
The program works for us, outside of the few issues we mentioned before around sustainability and flexibility. In comparison to, say, focus on youth.... These are pretty much the same initiatives.
The piece around the ability to hire locally is something we also have to explore. We would definitely like the ability to hire more. We hire a lot. Last year, it was 35. This year, it was 26. We hire a lot of youth each year, and we have to turn away kids. I would definitely like the ability to hire as many young people as possible.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey
Thank you, Mr. Coteau.
Ms. Chabot, you have the floor for six minutes
Louise Chabot Bloc Thérèse-De Blainville, QC
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
I thank all our witnesses for their testimony.
We can see the richness of their programs in their respective localities, and these programs are very important. I want to make it clear that the committee's study is in no way intended to call the Canada Summer Jobs program into question. On the contrary, their testimonyeight confirms that this program is very important for each of our communities. Without taking anything away from other organizations, it greatly helps non-profit organizations, or NPOs, which are the biggest beneficiaries, to carry out their projects.
The program serves a dual purpose: it helps young people gain experience and expertise, and it allows the organizations that hire them to take the time to invest in them. The committee does not question this.
I'm happy to see how we could improve this program. There have been two pandemic years, during which the program has been substantially revised in certain circumstances. However, the latest program has seen a significant decline compared to the pandemic years. This had a negative impact on several organizations, at least those in my riding. For example, some had requested funding for a position, but only received one. This sometimes calls the project into question.
Witnesses have talked a lot about the number of weeks of employment, and they're not the only ones who have. Often, the program will grant eight weeks when the organization would need 10 to 12 weeks. That's why we need to review the program's funding, if we think it's important.
My question is for all of the witnesses. Do you agree that funding should be increased to better meet needs?
Mr. Shepherd, would you like to respond first?
Executive Director, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peterborough
Thank you for the question.
Yes, I believe that would be beneficial. It would allow for the increase of time over the summer months. It would also help facilitate some of the flexibility.
Thank you.
Bloc
General Manager, Peterborough Musicfest
Thank you.
Yes, please, we would love the funding to be enhanced. We run for 12 weeks. We used to get 10 weeks. Moving back to eight—with, obviously, the minimum wage moving up—has been good for us, because we've been able to give our youth more funding. We appreciate that.
We know they are coming on board to have the experience of a lifetime at Musicfest, but we would also like to see them not at home. We want them working. Over the pandemic, as we all know, some of them did not work and did not want to come back. We're very thankful to be able to offer them this.
Thank you, Madame. We would prefer a little more funding, or another, longer term.