The federal government’s plan to close seasonal student job centres and instead boost their online resources is not sitting well with student organizations.
The initiative, which is expected to save $6.5 million in operating costs annually, will shut down the Centretown Service Canada Youth Employment Centre at 300 Laurier Ave. West this year. The centre opened between May and September each year to support youth in their job search.
“It’s a very disappointing decision,” says Chantle Beeso, vice president of student issues for the Carleton University Students’ Association. “It could be detrimental to students looking for jobs because they can no longer get the one-on-one time the centres provided to help them apply.”
Over 300 youth employment centres across the country are closing down at a time when the youth unemployment rate hovers at just over 14 per cent, according to Statistics Canada. The figure does not include thousands of youth who are underemployed and often working part-time jobs at wages too low to cover the basic costs of living.
The centres themselves were a source of jobs, as each employed a couple staff members. The youth unemployment rate is double that of the rest of Canadians.
“People graduating have a tough time finding jobs, and these centres provided access to jobs students may not have seen before,” says Beeso. “They gave great services and attention, (the employees) were mentors who gave good advice… it was a win-win situation for businesses looking to hire and students looking to work.”
The office of Diane Finley, minister of human resources and skills development, contends that the number of students visiting the centres has decreased significantly over the last few years, making them less effective and relevant.
“Youth across the country have told us they want to access more government services online, including help with job searches and resumé writing,” says Finley’s spokeswoman, Alyson Queen. “In response we are expanding the website (www.youth.gc.ca) with new resources to help youth find employment.”
The Canadian Federation of Students is lobbying Finley to continue operating the seasonal youth employment centres.
The federation’s chair Roxanne Dubois says online services will not be enough to help students find jobs.
“A website cannot replace a real person that provides advice on how to write a resumé and perform well in an interview,” she says.
Queen maintains the online initiative will be thorough and effective in helping narrow the unemployment rate.
“Our government’s top priority is job creation and economic growth, and that includes ensuring Canadians have access to the tools and services they need to find employment,” she says.
Dubois says without these centres youth are going to have a tougher time finding jobs.
“I knew people that made good use of the centres,” says Beeso. “The cuts are making it harder on a group that already has a tough task ahead of them.”