Horwath to create 27,000 new paid co-ops and internships

TORONTO – NDP Leader Andrea Horwath sat down with students in Toronto on Tuesday to talk about how her plan to create 27,000 new work-integrated learning opportunities like co-ops or paid internships for students.

“A co-op or internship is so much more than a job,” said Horwath. “It’s an opportunity to gain a foothold in a career and get some real experience on your resume.

“The Wynne Liberals had 15 years to give young workers what they need to hit the ground running, but instead they chose to cut, underfunding colleges and universities and cutting the Youth Jobs Strategy in 2016. And Doug Ford will just make things worse by cutting over $6 billion from the services and programs students and families depend on. That could leave nothing on the table for students preparing to enter the workforce.”

Ontario has a skills gap, with employers identifying the need for more skilled, trained and ready-to-work employees. The NDP’s plan addresses the skills gap with a focus on work-integrated learning, creating new placements for young people and doubling Ontario’s Career Kick-Start program.

“New Democrats believe in there’s more we can do to help the next generation build a great life right here in Ontario,” said Horwath. “We don’t have to go from bad to worse. We can do so much better for students and graduates.”

Horwath’s Change for the Better platform also helps young workers by:

• Doubling Ontario’s Career Kick-Start program through the Jobs and Prosperity Fund
• Converting future OSAP loans to grants, and paying back any interest paid on existing loans
• Raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and tying future increases to inflation
• Closing the minimum wage loopholes that allow students and servers to be paid less
• Making it harder for employers to label long-time workers “contractors” instead of employees, and requiring temp workers to become permanent employees after 90 days of work