PARRY SOUND - Tony Clement, Member of Parliament for Parry Sound–Muskoka and Minister for FedNor, last week announced a Government of Canada investment to create youth employment opportunities across Northern Ontario.
This will help address skilled labour shortages in the region and provide valuable work experience for young graduates.
Regional Tourism Organization 12 Parry Sound/Muskoka will receive $27,500 to hire a youth intern to collaborate with regional businesses and stakeholders, to develop and enhance the tourism industry in the Parry Sound-Muskoka region.
The intern’s responsibilities will include identifying regional tourism offerings, reviewing and analyzing supplier and business activities to develop and promote regional tour packages, establishing an easy payment process for consumers, as well as determining the success of the campaign by evaluating increased business activity in the region.
Through its Youth Internship Initiative, FedNor will invest more than $400,000 to create 15 youth employment opportunities across the region. Since its inception, FedNor has helped more than 1300 young graduates from Northern Ontario obtain that crucial first job experience, and provided countless local organizations access to a qualified and talented workforce. The Youth Internship Initiative has also helped businesses and communities build the workforce of the future and position the region for sustainable economic growth and prosperity.
“Our government is proud to help provide talented youths with meaningful employment opportunities in Northern Ontario,” said Clement. “It is important to families in the region that their sons and daughters have the opportunity to seek careers locally rather than having to gravitate to large urban centres to find good jobs.”
The funding  was provided through FedNor’s Northern Ontario Development Program, which supports projects that strengthen community economic development, enhance business development and growth and facilitate innovation throughout the region.