Marois government unveils youth action plan

MONTREAL – Youth dropouts and the unemployed were at the heart of an initiative announced on Tuesday in Montreal by Pauline Marois, as part of the Parti Quebecois’ white paper on youth.

The government estimates that approximately 200,000 young people aged 15-29 have fallen through the cracks: they are neither part of the workforce nor in school.

At the crux of the initiative, known as “A generation with multiple aspirations,” is a civic service program designed for youth aged 18 to 24.

Participants enrolled in the program would be required to work somewhere in Quebec, but outside their own region, and would receive a work stipend.

At the end of the work program, participants would be expected to be trying to get back into work by enrolling in educational course, a career counselling service or an employment integration program.

The white paper is the result of consultations held across Quebec by Léo Bureau-Blouin, the ex-student leader and current Parliamentary Assistant to the Premier for youth.

Bureau-Blouin hopes that it will help shape Marois’ government public policy for youth.

The white paper is expected to be deliberated before the parliamentary commission.

The minority Parti Quebecois government will need the support of either the Quebec Liberal Party or the Coaltion Avenir Quebec for any of the proposed measures to be adopted.