Ontario Premier shares her concerns about the lack of women in the trades.
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COBOURG -- Through the power of the Internet, some Cobourg high school students got the rare opportunity to speak with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne.
Speaking to Meaford, Brampton, Ottawa, Cobourg and Toronto students during her first Google Hangout, Ms. Wynne answered questions from students about the Province’s youth jobs strategy, during the online chat on Oct. 17.
The Ontario government’s youth jobs strategy was unveiled on Oct. 16.
“The youth jobs strategy really builds on what’s been done in the past,” the premier said. “We want to help create a seamless path for our young people to find jobs.”
Ms. Wynne said the government relies on Ontario residents providing feedback on how politicians can help.
“We can’t always have conversations face-to-face like we are now,” she said. “But talk to your teachers, your guidance counsellors so they can help get the message out.”
During her online chat, the premier fielded two questions from St. Mary high school--one regarding the low number of women employed in the trades and opportunities for First Nations youth.
“It actually concerns me when I visit shops or tour job sites,” Ms. Wynne said, regarding the women in trades question. “I see a real unequal balance between men and women there. The Ontario government has a women in trades website that is geared towards helping women explore and find work in the trades.”
The premier added she would like to see trades opportunities exposed to young grades in elementary school, “before they enter high school so they have a better understanding of what type of trade they may want to pursue.”
She said the youth jobs strategy is to encourage all young people.
“Ontario has a rich and diverse workforce. We want all young people, no matter their background, to have the same opportunities,” the premier said, citing three current programs the government currently has to help First Nations youth pursue certain careers, such as law and natural resources.
To view the original article, visit http://www.mississauga.com.
For more information on the youth strategy program, visit www.ontario.ca.
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