Canada Faces Idle Youth Problem

Northern Advocate, 15 July 1938, Page 6

Canada Faces Idle Youth Problem

Along Avith the United States of America, Canada is making rapid strides towards overcoming the problem of youth unemployment, states the Christian Science Monitor. In its nation-wide campaign against economic depression, the Canadian Government is mobilizing its youth into a permanent army of industry. Faced with this almost insuperable task 12 months ago, the Dominion Provincial Youth Training officials, according to figures quoted from Department of Labour, have been thus far successful in training 55,000 young men and women for gainful occupations. Changing the system of dole and direct relief to one of jobs and wages was an emphatic declaration of the Mackenzie King Cabinet when it came into power in 1934. First steps in this direction was the closing of camps for unemployed single men and assisting the campers into farm and railway work. Greatest problem of all, however, was the ever-increasing number of boys and girls graduating annually from public schools only to join the ranks of the Idle. Immediate and special attention to this problem was given by the National Employment Commission and foremost social workers of the country. No Racial Discrimination. April last year saw 1,000,000 dollars voted by Parliament, in co-operation with the provinces, for the establishment of free courses in all trades. All persons between the ages of 18 and 30 without gainful occupation and in necessitous circumstances could avail themselves of these services, the selection of trainees to be made, by the provinces, subject to Dominion approval, without discrimination or favour regarding racial origin, religious beliefs or political affiliations. Responding heartily to the proposal, '.v-ery province set about adapting -the scheme to its particular industries, and in a very few months the Youth Training Movement had become thoroughly organised and in full working order. Canada has determined that its young people shall have a start in life which will give them opportunities to develop into useful citizens. The Government has realised the danger of idle youth and has set out to over- I come its effect.