OTTAWA  (28 April 2009)  –  “Our Government continues to recognize the importance of the next generation of Canadians,” states Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright. “Two of the most recent measures we have implemented to help Canada’s youth, are:  investing $10 million in the Youth Business Foundation to help young entrepreneurs and; providing $20 million to help employ thousands more students in the Federal Public Service Student Employment Program.”

The CanadianYouth Business Foundation (CYBF)* is a national charity providing start-up, mentoring, financing and business resources to help young Canadians, aged 18-34, who would not otherwise have the opportunity to realize their full potential, create their own successful businesses. They have helped fund 2800 entrepreneurial companies which have in turn created $300 million in sales revenue, $69 million in tax revenue, $33 million in export revenue and more than 15,000 new jobs.

“These companies have an impressive 95% repayment rate of their initial $15,000 start-up loan,” points out Benoit. “It is a good investment, and as a result, the $10 million this Conservative government has allocated to CYBF will go on funding new youth entrepreneurs into the future, indefinitely.”

The Federal Public Service Employment Program** allocates funds directly to departments and agencies across the federal public service to pay for student salaries. Last year, the program resulted in the hiring of 23,000 post-secondary students and the additional funding will create new job opportunities for up to 2000 additional students.

“These students are hired from all across the country through three existing programs,” explains Benoit. “The Federal Student Work Experience Program, the Co-operative Education and Internship Program and the Research Affiliate Program, all hire students and over 60% of those jobs are outside the national capital region – so the program benefits regional economies as well.”

*For more information on CYBF, or to obtain a loan application, visit www.cybf.ca.

**More information on recruitment programs for students in the public service can be found at http://jobs-emplois.gc.ca/stud-etud/jobs-postes-eng.htm.