News Release

Ontario Invests In New Internships And Co-op Placements For Northern Youth

August 14, 2007

Investment Part Of  Response To Northern Development Councils’ Recommendations
 
SUDBURY – The McGuinty government is continuing to help young northerners tap future opportunities by investing in career-related internships and work placements across the North, Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci announced today. 

“Since 2003, our government has tackled youth out-migration by helping our young people develop their careers and find meaningful employment at home,” said Bartolucci.  “Our investments are funding hundreds of job placements in the North and are ensuring the future growth and prosperity of our region.”

Through the Northern Ontario Youth Internship and Co-op Program, the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation (NOHFC) is investing nearly $4 million in 207 internship and co-op work placements that provide on-the-job training and experience to young northerners seeking to launch and build their careers in the North.  Today’s announcement brings the province’s current investment under this program to nearly $11.2 million for 615 placements.

The province has also posted the councils’ recommendations on developing new and better opportunities for young people in Northern Ontario.  Based on this work, the province is currently developing a dedicated “one-stop” youth web portal and a comprehensive directory of government services and programs.  The research and recommendations resulting from the councils’ consultations last summer will also be used to inform the work underway in developing a Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.

“We have also been able to build on the Northern Development Councils’ recommendations to enhance and refine criteria of programs designed for young people, such as our NOHFC Internship and Co-op Program,” added Bartolucci.  “I want to thank the councils and their youth subcommittee and the hundreds of northerners who participated in the northern dialogue for providing invaluable assistance in developing these recommendations.”

Today’s investment is just one more example of how, working together, Ontarians have achieved results in the North.  Other examples include:

• Providing more than  $2.3 million to date, through the Northern Ontario Young Entrepreneur Program, to help some 105 young people start their own business
• Improving access to health care professionals and providing $6.7 million in bursaries for the students of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine
• Enhancing access to technology by making a $1.7 million investment to develop a network of virtual reality facilities across the North.

These initiatives are part of the government’s Northern Prosperity Plan for building stronger northern communities. It has four pillars: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.

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Contacts:

Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454 Michel Lavoie 
MNDM/NOHFC – Sudbury
(705) 564-7125

Lisa Zanetti, Manager
MNDM/NDC Unit – Sudbury
(705) 564-7016

Disponible en français

www.nohfc.com 

930000s, 935000s
 
 

Backgrounder

Creating Opportunities For Young People In The North

Ontario’s Northern Development Councils were created by the McGuinty government to bring a northern perspective to provincial policies and initiatives by providing advice to Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci.

As one of their first major tasks, the four councils – reflecting views from the major cities, Northwest, Northeast and the Far North – were asked to undertake extensive dialogue with northerners on ways to create opportunities for youth in Northern Ontario.

The councils recruited a team of young northerners (list of members follows) and, with the assistance of these volunteers, reviewed existing research, identified northern ideas and developed a discussion paper that outlined potential objectives and strategies. Northerners were then invited to identify the strategies they felt addressed the greatest needs or had the greatest benefits for their communities.

More than 500 northerners participated in 32 dialogue sessions held in 16 communities across the region, while 530 northerners provided input through a print or online survey. Thanks to strong northern input, the councils were able to provide the minister with 16 focused recommendations on ways to strengthen community, education and employment opportunities for young people in Northern Ontario.

These recommendations have been posted at www.ndc.gov.on.ca.

The government will also rely on the work of the councils to help guide the development of new initiatives, such as the recently announced Growth Plan for Northern Ontario.

In addition to the Northern Dialogue on Youth, the councils have undertaken discussions with northerners on Growing and Strengthening Northern Businesses and have assisted in such initiatives as Ontario’s Mineral Development Strategy, GO North, Northern Ontario Grow Bonds and the development of a northern approach to immigration.

Northern Development Councils are one of several coordinated, northern-focused programs aimed at bringing renewed economic strength and prosperity to northern communities. The Northern Prosperity Plan has four pillars: Strengthening the North and its Communities; Listening to and Serving Northerners Better; Competing Globally; and Providing Opportunities for All.

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Contacts:

Laura Blondeau
Minister’s Office – Sudbury
(705) 564-7454

Lisa Zanetti, Manager
Northern Development Councils Unit
MNDM – Sudbury
705-564-7016

Disponible en français

www.nohfc.com

Members of the NDC Opportunities for Youth Subcommittee

NDC Members
Earle Freeborn (Chapleau)
Julie Sauve-Joncas, (Mattice)
Dianne Krucker (Sudbury)
Barry Sears (Elliot Lake)
Bill LeMay (Thunder Bay)
Charlie Primeau (Long Lac)
Sandra Svenkeson (Marathon)
Bruce Strapp (Sault Ste Marie)
Barbara Taylor (North Bay)

Youth Participants
John Hoffren (Timmins)
Christie Hayne (North Bay)
Jason Collins (Sault Ste Marie)
Megan Chochla (Thunder Bay)
Melanie Debassige (M’Chigeeng)
Daniel Mayer (Sudbury)
Christopher MacDonald (Webequie)
Don Aiken (Red Lake)
Catherine Cheechoo (Thunder Bay)

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