NDP tables motion to create 27,000 paid co-op and internships for Ontario’s young people

QUEEN’S PARK—NDP Official Opposition Youth Engagement critic Faisal Hassan (York South-Weston) said that too many young people are still finding it difficult to land their first paid job and get the experience that they need to build a career.

On Wednesday, Hassan announced a motion calling on the government to create 27,000 new paid work opportunities for students, recent graduates or unemployed youth to get the real life work opportunities that they need to build a good life in Ontario.

“Imagine a province where students and youth that work hard actually get a shot to build their best life in Ontario,” said Hassan. “Years of Conservatives and Liberals robbed young people of this chance, and created an environment where there are just too few entry level jobs to go around.

“Young people should expect more from their government, not less, and an opportunity to build their best life in Ontario.”

In January of 2019, the youth jobless rate — the rate of young people actively looking for work and unable to find it — was a staggering 11.2 per cent, well above the rest of Ontario’s labour force. Hassan’s motion would see opportunities created in the public and private sector, including opportunities in the skilled trades.

“Ontario’s been headed in the wrong direction for a long time with more and more debt being piled on students, and fewer and fewer paid jobs for students and young people,” said Hassan. “That’s why I’m calling for the creation of 27,000 new, paid work opportunities for students, recent graduates and unemployed youth.”

Hassan’s motion will be debated on Thursday, Feb. 28, at Queen’s Park.