Hon. Andrew Cardozo: My question is for the Government Representative. I want to address the high unemployment rate.
Tomorrow, with six other senators, I am co-hosting a round table on youth unemployment to which all colleagues are invited. Senator Moreau, you will be aware that the unemployment rate for youth is over 13% and double that of the unemployment rate for the population at large. This is clearly a crisis.
On the Summer Jobs program, I’m asking the government, first, to double the number of placements from 100,000 to 200,000; second, to double the length of the placements from 8 weeks to 16 weeks; and, third, to run the program year-round, not just in the summer. These are simple measures that would help address the crisis facing young Canadians without additional administrative overheads, since the process is already in place.
Will you please take this recommendation to the Minister of Jobs and the Minister of Finance?
Hon. Pierre Moreau (Government Representative in the Senate): First, let me tell you that the government recognizes that Canada’s economic future depends on the next generation. Investments are needed to create a stronger, more competitive workforce to drive long-term prosperity.
The budget provides $595 million over two years for Canada Summer Jobs. This will support around 100,000 summer jobs this upcoming summer.
Other investments include the following: more than $300 million for the Horizontal Evaluation of the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy to provide training and wraparound support to around 20,000 youth facing employment barriers annually, $635 million for the Student Work Placement Program and $40 million for the Youth Climate Corps to provide paid skills training for young Canadians.
The Canadian government is committed to supporting youth in building skills to help them gain employment in high-paying careers.
Senator Cardozo: Senator, what I’m asking is that the expenditure, in fact, be quadrupled for the summer program. Currently, those programs you mentioned cover about 10% of youth. We can do better as a country.
Last week, I attended the round table on digital sovereignty in Toronto hosted by the Digital Governance Council. One recommendation was that we demand more in our trade deals. When the government is attracting foreign companies into Canada, these companies sell the fruits of their IP in our market and then reshore the value. There is need for a condition that would require these —
The Hon. the Speaker: Thank you, Senator Cardozo.
Senator Moreau: I think I get your question.
To protect Canadian intellectual property and support Canadian small- and medium-sized enterprises, the government will provide $84.4 million to extend the ElevateIP program, as well as $75 million to extend the IP Assist program. Maybe this should be a proper answer to an unfinished question.