The federal Conservative Party is pitching a new plan aimed at helping young Canadians find jobs, as youth unemployment hits its highest level in 15 years outside of the pandemic.
Statistics show unemployment for Canadians aged 15 to 24 rose to 14.7 per cent in September, sparking concerns about the economic outlook for young workers. Conservatives say a combination of a “broken” immigration system and weak job training supports are worsening the situation.
MP Garnett Genuis outlined the party’s proposal on Tuesday. It includes offering more government student assistance for young people pursuing careers in high-demand fields, and giving businesses in regions with labour shortages the ability to write off the cost of building housing for workers.
The Conservatives have also made immigration a key focus of the fall session of Parliament, arguing that recent policy decisions have flooded the job market, making it more difficult for Canadian youth to secure work. They are calling on the government to scrap the temporary foreign worker program and refocus on domestic labour training.
The Official Opposition is urging Prime Minister Mark Carney’s Liberal government to adopt the proposed jobs plan and incorporate it into the upcoming November 4 federal budget.