Common ground on employment and education for youth

SIDNEY, B.C. - The Green Party of Canada is challenging all parties to create a better atmosphere for the 2011 election by letting Canadians know that their leaders are capable of being positive, as well as negative. For the rest of this first week, each day the Green Party will propose an issue or idea where we think all parties can find common ground.

“For the fourth time in seven years, Canada finds itself in a federal election. I know that Canadians feel this is an unnecessary use of taxpayers’ money and they are sick of the mud-slinging and the personal attacks. We are saying, let’s try to engage the voters. Let’s try to show them that, once in a while, we can agree on important policy issues,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May.

The first big proposal from the Greens is that Canada needs a nation-wide employment and education initiative for youth.

“Surely all the parties can agree that providing employment and education for youth need to be a priority. Recessions hit youth the hardest. They are continually caught in a cycle of not yet having the skills or experience to be competitive but not being able to gain these skills and experience without a job,” said Green Leader Elizabeth May. “It is a critical phase of their lives and it is a worthwhile investment to create a generation that is fully participating and contributing both economically and socially.”

“So I am asking the other parties leaders to stand up today up today and say, yes, on this issue we can find common ground. Today we can all agree that Canada needs an immediate investment in a nation-wide employment and education initiative for youth,” said May.

Media can download the statement in high-resolution digital format here: http://greenparty.ca/media

The statement is on YouTube here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSCXHuZq_ng

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Contact Information:
Kieran Green
Director of Communications
Green Party of Canada
Kieran.green@greenparty.ca
C: 613-614-4916
www.greenparty.ca

Ken Wu

Saanich-Gulf Islands Communications Director 

778-426-4494