Mr. Speaker, as you know, over 400,000 young Quebecers and Canadians under the age of 25 are presently unemployed. To remedy this problem, this government intends to set up the youth service corps. But the first year, this new program will be available to only 2,500 young people, or 0.6 per cent of all the young unemployed.
Also, the youth service corps is similar to the old Katimavik program the Conservatives abolished in 1986 in that very few activities are directed to the labour market and allowances are paltry. How can one imagine that a young graduate can live on a mere $61 a week.
I submit that the federal government should review its plans with respect to young Canadians and consider putting into place a genuine employment program for them.