The federal government is now taking applications from local organizations for the Canada Summer Jobs program.
Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough notes in Thunder Bay’s two ridings last year, there were over 480 jobs created as a result of the program.
“Last year we funded about 77,000 jobs across the country, and for Thunder Bay, it was about a $1.6 million salary injection into your community,” said Qualtrough.
The program provides subsidies to employers who provide summer work for people between the ages of 15 and 30.
Meantime, the employment minister believes the controversies surrounding the Canada Summer Jobs program are in the past. Previously, some faith-based groups saw their funding turned down because of some of their beliefs. Qualtrough tells us last year the federal government clarified the rules noting, “Maybe we went too far a couple of years ago, it was unclear, so we fixed that up last year and we had a great intake…without any problem whatsoever.”
