by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (Feb 17/97) - Five young Northerners joined 12 federal ministers in Ottawa last Wednesday for the unveiling of the federal government's long-awaited youth employment strategy.

Fort Simpson's Guy MacKenzie, Fort Resolution's Steven Norn, Yellowknife's Kim Parker, Tuktoyaktuk's Dianna McPherson and Fort Good Hope's Rhea Chinna hobnobbed with Ottawa's movers and shakers at the invitation of Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew.

"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 (left), secretary of state for training and youth.

In a telephone interview Wednesday, she said the strategy, announced by Human Resources Minister Pierre Pettigrew, is the second major project she has been involved with from beginning to end.

The first one was the signing of 11 Northern bi-lateral training funding agreements between Ottawa and regional aboriginal political organizations worth $36 million over three years.

This latest strategy includes an Internet site with information and more money for summer jobs and specific initiatives aimed at aboriginal 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.

Pettigrew, Blondin-Andrew and 11 other cabinet ministers took part in announcing the plan, which is expected to make inroads on 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 disadvantaged youth work experience that may lead to full-time employment.

"Investing in young people is an investment in Canada's future," said Pettigrew. "The Youth Employment Strategy provides us with tools we need to help thousands more young Canadians enter today's complex and demanding labor market."

Blondin-Andrew, excited with the strategy, said it is money well spent -- an investment not only in Canada's youth, but the future of the nation.

"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.

Strategy highlights:

• the Student Summer Job Action program will receive increased funding in 1997 to help more than 60,000 youth get career-related summer jobs and another 60,000 in 1998

• new internship programs will be created -- through partnerships between the government and private sector -- for 110,000 youth in science, technology, the environment, international trade and international development

• the Youth Resource Network of Canada gives young Canadians a web site with links to a range of tools and information that will help them find jobs, access services, exchanges and work experience programs. The Internet address is: www.youth.gc.ca

• the RCMP Summer Student Program gives 230 disadvantaged students the opportunity to gain work experience in the police service sector over the next two summers

• First Nations youth on reserves and Inuit youth internships programs give 11,600 youth the opportunity to work on skills development and entrepreneurial experience to reflect job prospects on reserves or in local labor markets over two years

• the First Nations and Inuit Summer Student Career Placement Program will see $8.2 million over two years put towards wage contributions for the creation of summer jobs for some 6,000 high school and post-secondary students.