All Canadians who are watching us today, including my constituents in Vimy and Laval in the beautiful province of Quebec will see the generational investments that will be covered in the budget later today. I think you will see that this government has listened and has heard and that there's going to be something in the budget for everyone.

Mr. Gordon, given that more than 130,000 youth placements were supported last year through federal programs, what lessons do you think we can draw from those outcomes to continue connecting young people with skilled, well-paid careers?

1 p.m.

Director of Canadian Training, United Association Canada

Michael Gordon

I think that we look at the projects that have the most success and try to emulate those. With the new injection of $75 million into UTIP, there are a few things we can do. Even though we form the greatest amount of infrastructure for trades training, we still need to grow. We need bricks-and-mortar funding. Some of those dollars need to go to expanding our facilities so we can bring in more students faster.

Again, we're accountable if the class has five people or 50 people...well, we don't have classes that big, but five people or 20 people, regardless, the show will go on. Getting to the end of your apprenticeship, you need to attend trades school several times, and if those times are delayed because you can't get into a scheduled class, that's problematic. You can run out of time in your apprenticeship, having served in the field, but not having completed your in-class schooling.

That, and then maybe.... Yes, I would just say further investment in the proven successes, and we assure you that we'll be able to put people on jobs, but looking at the direct entry programs that I mentioned in my presentation would be an excellent example of how we have guaranteed apprenticeship registrations.

1 p.m.

Liberal

Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC

Thank you.

Mr. Binger, I also want to thank you for bringing your very important voice to this study. Looking ahead, what additional mechanisms or program improvements do you think would further help youth facing psychological or social barriers to work, building on the foundation of existing federal initiatives?

You spoke about a committee perhaps, but besides a committee, what other things should the federal government be working on? Who do you believe would be stakeholders or partners who could help the federal government achieve that?

1:05 p.m.

Care Advocate and Graduate Student, Counselling Psychology, As an Individual

David Binger

I'd go back to what I mentioned in my opening statement. Creating professional regulation and oversight in care, removing the privatization and profit incentives, and a federal approach to post-secondary supports would be extremely helpful. For a lot of the ones we have now, one school might do it and another might, and a lot of them are specifically doing waivers. The data supports that specifically giving a little financial incentive to go to post-secondary doesn't alleviate any of the issues that start pre-care, during care or post-care. Keeping better national data is one of the most important things. We have very limited national data on child welfare, and that limits any ability to look at one province and say they're doing well over there but not so good there.

I don't know many organizations I can speak of, but Dr. Jacqueline Gahagan from the Atlantic provinces has done a lot of research on increasing at least the post-secondary side. I think she would be fantastic. She spoke with the Senate about a lot of these matters as well.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

You have 30 seconds.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

Annie Koutrakis Liberal Vimy, QC

I'll say thank you very much to our witnesses for joining us today and for adding their voices, thoughts and comments.

This is the type of testimony we need to hear as policy-makers to work across all party lines to make sure we are putting in place the proper policies and supports that are needed for our youth to excel.

Thank you.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Madam Koutrakis.

I want to thank you, Mr. Binger, for taking the time to articulate the challenges that you confronted and for making this committee aware of those. When we're doing our reports we must reflect all the demographics in society.

Again, thank you. I know you were a little hesitant when I spoke to you, but I trust it was a good experience and that you got some value from it.

I want to thank the committee members for questioning you in a way that allowed you to get on the record what you felt was very important.

That is not to underestimate you, Mr. Gordon. Thank you for your testimony to this committee as well.

Again, thank you, witnesses, for taking the time today to appear before the committee and give us your perspective on the challenges confronting young people entering the workforce. After all, that's what this study is for.

With that, the witnesses can go.

Committee members, I would like to confirm a change in the calendar for Thursday. It's been suggested to me that we will do drafting instructions in the first hour of Thursday's meeting. I have asked the analysts if we can prepare to make that change.

Is it the wish of the committee to alter the calendar to replace the first hour with the drafting instructions and to make the second hour the last panel on this youth employment project?

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

1:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you.

With that, is it the will of the committee to adjourn?

1:05 p.m.

Some hon. members

Agreed.

1:05 p.m.