by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 14/97) - Five Northerners, including 18-year-old former St. Pat's student Kim Parker, joined federal cabinet ministers and business executives Tuesday in Ottawa for a major youth program announcement.

Parker, who is involved in the community through her work with the St. Patrick's church youth group and minor soccer, among other endeavors, left for Ottawa Tuesday at the invitation of Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

"She was excited," said Myrna Parker, Kim's mother. "It's certainly a unique opportunity ... she was flattered that she was chosen to go."

Parker joined young adults from Fort Simpson, Fort Resolution, Tuktoyaktuk and Fort Good Hope, who were also flown to the nation's capital for the occasion.

"Because the North is so remote ... I wanted to ensure our young people were represented for such an incredible day and important announcement," said Blondin-Andrew.

The fuss was over Ottawa's long-awaited youth jobs strategy, announced Wednesday morning.

The strategy includes plans to start an Internet site with job information and more money for summer jobs and specific initiatives aimed at aboriginal and Inuit youth.

Drawn from $315 million set aside in last year's federal budget, the three-year strategy encourages businesses to participate in job funding and reap the rewards of work placement and summer job programs.

Human Resources Minister Pierre Pettigrew, Blondin-Andrew and 11 other cabinet ministers took part in the announcement, which is expected to tackle a youth unemployment rate of 17 per cent.

The national unemployment rate average is 9.7 per cent.

The summer job and internship programs are designed to give Canada's estimated 600,000 unemployed students and under-privileged work experience that may lead to full-time employment.

"Everything I had hoped for and then some was included in the strategy, so all-in-all it was a great day," said Blondin-Andrew.

She noted that her guests at the announcement enjoyed the company of top banking executives, several cabinet ministers and Deputy Prime Minister Sheila Copps.

"The youth had a great opportunity to talk with some important people in government and business, and those people in turn were extremely impressed with our youth and what they had to say," said Blondin-Andrew.

She said the visit gave her a chance to discuss the strategy directly with Northern youth representatives.