MPP Arnott challenges Minister on youth unemployment
NEWS RELEASE
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 22, 2014
MPP Arnott challenges Minister on youth unemployment
(Queen’s Park) – The Provincial Government needs to do more to address the problem of youth
unemployment in Ontario, says Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott.
During Question Period in the Ontario Legislature on July 22, Mr. Arnott, the PC Critic to the
Minister of Economic Development, Employment, and Infrastructure, called out the Minister for
contradictory statements that he has made in recent days about the success of the
Government’s youth jobs strategy.
“In a press conference on Friday, the Minister admitted the goal of his Government’s youth jobs
strategy is to create ‘opportunities’ and ‘experience’, not meaningful, long term employment. He
added that the programs don’t have a good long term success rate,” Mr. Arnott pointed out.
“But yesterday, in a staged, set up, lob ball question in this House from the Member for
Burlington, the Minister bragged about the success of his youth job programs.”
“Why was the Minister saying one thing on Friday, and something very different in this House
yesterday?” Mr. Arnott asked.
Mr. Arnott pointed out that Ontario’s youth unemployment rate currently stands at over 15% —
an unacceptably high number.
“We’ve all met bright, enthusiastic young people who’ve gotten their degrees or their certificates,
and who are discouraged because after months or even years of trying, can’t find that career-
track job,” said Mr. Arnott. “If the Minister knows that his programs aren’t working, as he
seemed to understand on Friday, when will he announce a youth jobs strategy that will?”
Mr. Arnott has said that to stimulate job creation, Ontario needs to reduce the tax and red tape
burden on business, and get hydro rates, government spending, and debt under control.
(Attached: Text of the Questions Mr. Arnott asked in the Ontario Legislature, July 22, 2014)
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Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott was re-elected to the Ontario Legislature on June
st
12. The 41 Provincial Parliament began a summer sitting on July 2, and the session
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Ted Arnott, MPP
Phone: 416-325-3880
Email: ted.arnott@pc.ola.org
Ted Arnott, MPP
Wellington-Halton Hills
Text of Mr. Arnott’s questions to the Minister of Economic
Development, Employment, and Infrastructure in the Ontario
Legislature, July 22, 2014
Question:
Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Economic Development, Employment, and
Infrastructure:
In a press conference on Friday, the Minister admitted the goal of his Government’s youth jobs
strategy is to create “opportunities” and “experience”, not meaningful, long term employment.
He added that the programs don’t have a good long term success rate.
But yesterday, in a staged, set up, lob ball question in this House from the Member for
Burlington, the Minister bragged about the success of his youth job programs.
Why was the Minister saying one thing on Friday, and something very different in this House
yesterday?
Supplementary:
A cynic once said that a political gaffe is when a politician accidentally tells the truth. The
Minister’s behaviour in recent days serves to reinforce that view.
The truth is the youth unemployment rate in Ontario is more than 15%. Surely this is
unacceptable to the Minister, just as it should be to all Members in this House.
We’ve all met bright, enthusiastic young people who’ve gotten their degrees or their certificates,
and who are discouraged because after months or even years of trying, can’t find that career-
track job.
If the Minister knows that his programs aren’t working, as he seemed to understand on Friday,
when will he announce a youth jobs strategy that will work?