DRYDEN, ON, June 25, 2009—Greg Rickford, Member of Parliament for Kenora, today congratulated the organizations and students in the Kenora Riding that will benefit from this year’s federal Canada Summer Jobs program.

“I am very pleased that students in our community will be able to benefit from quality summer job opportunities right here in the Kenora riding,” said Rickford.  “These projects, while providing students with work experience, will also benefit local organizations and small businesses.”

Approximately 50 organizations in the constituency will be able to create about 85 summer job opportunities for students, thanks to an investment of just under $193,000 by the Government of Canada. These jobs are spread across the both the private and public sector. Locally the Patricia Regional Tourism Council (PRTC) is benefiting from the program through the placement of summer student Clancy Doherty. Clancy is working in the position of Patricia Region Travel Counselor Co-ordinator while home in Dryden for the summer. In the fall he will return to his second year of studying in the Travel & Tourism Program at Confederation College.

“While I may just be working on the "ground level" of this organization - mainly helping to improve their websites,” said Doherty, “my placement has, and continues to give me incredible insight as to how this facet of the tourism industry works, not to mention, I get to help promote my area of the country as a great tourism destination!”

Canada Summer Jobs is a Government of Canada initiative that supports work experiences for students while also helping organizations that provide important community services. It encourages not-for-profit organizations, public sector employers and small businesses with 50 or fewer employees to create jobs that not only meet their needs, but also benefit students looking to gain work experience.

“In light of the current economy, it is more important than ever that we help our students,” added Rickford. “This means creating more jobs that prepare them for the workforce through experience and learning opportunities across the country.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan contained increased funding of $20 million for Canada Summer Jobs to help Canadian students acquire skills and work experience this meant an extra $20,842 for our local Kenora riding. With the additional funding, the Government of Canada will now make a total of $107.5 million available annually for the next two years.

About 300 Service Canada Centres for Youth have been established this summer and they are helping both students and employers. Located in communities across Canada, these centres are generally open to the public from May to August. They provide a variety of services, free of charge, to help employers advertise summer work opportunities and assist youth in looking for and applying to jobs in their communities.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit  www.actionplan.gc.ca.