Mr. Speaker, jobs, economic growth and youth are top priorities of the Government of Canada and these are major undertakings. As the hon. member for Etobicoke North has learned with all the hard work he has done in his riding, there are no single quick fix solutions nor is it the responsibility of any one level of government.
I am pleased with the number of measures that have been undertaken since 1993 which have created jobs and have ensured a skilled labour force for the future.
For instance as part of our initial red book commitments, the government promised to deliver on a youth employment strategy to give young people the skills necessary to succeed in the current and future labour markets, and we have delivered.
The government has also continued to work with the sectoral partnership initiative, SPI. It brings together employers, workers and other stakeholders in a particular industrial sector to define and address the human resources challenges facing the sector. Work through this initiative includes the establishment of sector councils which provide support to the private sector to develop the infrastructure necessary for the development and implementation of a particular industry's human resource strategy.
There are more than 20 sector councils operating, including councils for software, auto repair service, electrical and electronic manufacturing, and biotechnology, just to name a few. The work being done by the sectoral councils is important. In fact Human Resources Development Canada is currently consulting with the software sector council with regard to further research related to skills gaps.
In conclusion helping Canadians find jobs and be prepared for the changing work world is something that requires a collaborative effort on the part of governments, businesses, communities and individuals.
The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with provinces, industries and other stakeholders so that all Canadians, including our young people, can assume their rightful place in the workforce.