Ottawa, ON – Garnett Genuis, Conservative Shadow Minister for Employment, issued the following statement on the government’s latest youth employment announcement:

“Today’s announcement is yet another example of this Liberal government repackaging existing commitments for a photo op instead of delivering real solutions for young Canadians struggling to find work.

“So far this year, the Carney Liberals have delivered the highest non-pandemic job losses since the Great Recession. Canada lost 94,600 jobs, including 64,600 full-time jobs and 50,300 youth jobs. We have the second-highest unemployment in the G7 and youth unemployment remains consistently high, yet the Liberal government continues to reannounce existing programs and present them as new solutions.

“There is no new action to help our youth get jobs. The government is merely allocating funding that was already announced in the budget last fall. 

“Young Canadians aren’t working because Mark Carney is failing them. Last fall, Conservatives put forward a Youth Jobs Plan to tackle the crisis of youth unemployment and deliver results for young Canadians.

“Our plan focuses on four key priorities:

  1. Unleash the Economy. Repeal anti-resource laws, cut taxes to drive reinvestment, and eliminate the red tape that is choking homebuilding and business growth.  
  2. Fix Immigration. The Liberals have broken the system, flooding the market with labour and destroying long-held social bargains. We must fix credential recognition and realign immigration with labour and housing market realities. 
  3. Fix Training. Federal student aid should no longer treat all studies the same. We are proposing that the Canada Student Financial Assistance Program provide relatively more support to students pursuing in-demand fields, determined based on objective labour market data. Taxpayer investments in education should prepare youth for jobs. Sadly, the Liberals are moving in the opposite direction by cutting off grants to students at many vocational institutions.  
  4. Build Homes Where the Jobs Are. Employers trying to hire in regions with labour shortages face major obstacles because workers cannot find nearby housing. To fix this, we are proposing a 100% capital cost write-off for companies that build workforce housing. This powerful incentive will help small businesses and larger employers alike attract workers, while expanding housing supply overall. 

“Young Canadians deserve a government that is focused on creating opportunity, not the Carney Liberals’ illusions. Conservatives will continue to push for practical solutions that restore hope, create jobs, and give the next generation a chance to succeed.”