Building an inclusive, future-forward workforce where everyone has equitable access to jobs and opportunities

BY PAUL JUNOR

Parm Gill, Ontario Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism made the announcement in a press release. The previous Liberal government of Kathleen Wynne in 2017 initiated the Black Youth Action Plan (BYAP). According to Ontario’s government website: news.ontario.ca.

The Black Youth Action Plan works toward eliminating systemic, race-based disparities by increasing social and economic opportunities for Black children, youth and families across the province. By building a more inclusive workforce, the province continues to work for workers on the road to economic recovery.

Currently, through its support of more than 70 community-based and culturally focused community partners, it has reached out to identified areas in Ontario such as: Ottawa, Windsor, Greater Toronto, and Hamilton. The press release revealed that there will be a further investment of $14 million by the Ontario government in the BYPA to increase accessibility to employment options and career-building resources.

Minister Gill states, “Our government is making sure all Ontarians have access to the tools they need to build successful careers, including skills development and professional mentorship. It is imperative we build an inclusive, future-forward workforce where everyone has equitable access to jobs and opportunities which will help support our province in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Furthermore, Jamil Jivani, Ontario’s Advocate for Community Opportunities states, “Economic empowerment is key for families to thrive and communities to grow. The enhanced Black Youth Action Plan has prioritized economic empowerment initiatives, so black youth can pursue meaningful careers in dynamic industries. We thank all of the community partners who contributed their insights and expertise, including: the Dream Legacy Foundation, Network for the Advancement of Black Communities, Youth Research and Evaluation Exchange, and Premier’s Council on Equality of Opportunity.”

The three new initiatives include:

1.The Career Launch Initiative will support locally developed programs that help Black children and youth access professional networks and skills development in high opportunity fields.

2. The Career Advance Initiative will connect Black youth and young professionals with training and work placement opportunities in high opportunity industries.
3. The Sector-Innovation Networks support Black business leaders in high-growth sectors of the economy.

The deadlines by which applications have to be submitted for the three initiatives are March 23^rd, April 6^th, and April 20^th, 2022 respectively.

Information session dates are March 2^nd, March 16^th, and March 30^th, 2022.

Further inquiries can be made at youthengagement@ontario.ca to find out additional details.