Change needed to capture top international talent, say industry analysts
Canada’s position as one of the few solid liberal democracies holding its doors open to the world could make it easier to attract talent here, but experts say that is just one ingredient to nurturing innovative talent. The government has plans for a Global Skills Strategy that it says “will set an ambitious two-week standard […]
Preparing young Canadians for the jobs of tomorrow
Last summer, I sat down with 12 young entrepreneurs and innovators. They were game designers, data scientists, and YouTube stars. These jobs either didn’t exist, or were relatively new when I was their age less than a generation ago. We talked about ways for more young Canadians to develop digital skills, especially in a rapidly […]
Feds committed to helping youth ‘realize their full potential’: PS Schiefke
From the moment he was sworn into office, it was clear Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wanted to display to young Canadians that his government would be preoccupied with issues that matter to them. After all, he appointed himself youth minister. Through a strictly political lens, it’s an obvious calculation for Mr. Trudeau (Papineau, Que.), with many pundits, […]
Tackling the digital skills gap: youth without jobs, employers without workers
Canadian youth use sophisticated technology in many aspect of their lives, but are failing to gain the skills to develop that technology themselves, something employers are seeking. This contributes to an unemployment rate for young people that’s almost double the national average. The digital skills gap is a growing problem for which experts are united […]
Tax hikes hobble young people’s job prospects
Canada’s youth are facing an employment crisis. In December there were 40,000 fewer youth jobs than the year before. That’s a three per cent decrease! Most worrisome is that youth have been relegated by the finance minister to a career of insecure part-time and contract work, unable to make a proper life for themselves because […]
The other half of preparing for a Trump era
CALGARY—As much as trade-dependent Canada suffers when the United States shoots itself in the foot, there are still often gains to be had. This is shaping up to be likely with the incoming Trump administration. Anticipating and preparing to seize these opportunities is the other, often overlooked, half of the work that is needed by the private sector, federal and provincial governments to prepare for the incoming […]
‘It can’t be more of the same’ as precarious work grows, says NDP
The Trudeau government is fending off accusations that it has failed to take concrete measures to improve employment prospects for young Canadians confronting a swiftly evolving economic landscape. NDP MP Niki Ashton (Churchill-Keewatinook Aski, Man.), her party’s critic for jobs, employment, and workforce development, accused the government of neglecting an “emerging national crisis” of employment precariousness […]
We need better policies made for and by youth
Last year, many events promoting citizen engagement for millennials took place in Ottawa, such as ONE Young World or the Young Workers’ Summit. In 2017, for the 150th commemoration of Confederation, it is time to address important issues for youth under the age of 30, especially precarious employment, to listen to them, and include them […]
Youth Issues
Drywall tariff harms businesses, must be lowered
On Sept. 6, a provisional tariff of up to 277 per cent was imposed on gypsum board coming in to Western Canada from the United States exclusively, with disastrous consequences. This came as a shock to businesses in the construction sector, their employees, and clients in the process of building schools, major infrastructure projects, and […]
