Montréal, October 6, 2008 – Representatives of the QFL, the Solidarity Fund QFL and the Government of Québec held a press conference today announcing signature of an agreement to extend funding of the Fonds étudiant solidarité travail du Québec for the next ten years. This program provide some 300 students with stimulating, well-paying summer jobs.
Set up in 1998 by the QFL, the Solidarity Fund QFL and the Québec government to encourage employers to create summer jobs with a social and an educational component, this fund is aimed at small business owners, organization in the cooperative sector, not-for-profit community organizations, and labour organizations.
“This is an excellent initiative that we are proud to renew for the next ten years. Thanks to the $20 million investment made together by the Government of Québec and the Solidarity Fund QFL, and sound management of the fund, we have to date helped nearly 3,000 youths better prepare for the realities of the workplace. This type of initiative is right in line with our values and we are extremely pleased to be able to do our part to help students,” said Michel Arsenault, President of the QFL and Chairman of the Board of the Fonds étudiant solidarité travail du Québec.
“In addition to holding an enriching summer job, students have an opportunity to follow our economic training program. Developed specially for them, this two-day course teaches them about Québec’s economic situation, the role of small businesses here and in the world, the role of non-profit organizations, how the cooperative sector works, and the role of the Solidarity Fund QFL. This program is highly effective and I’m happy to see that the Fund can also make a difference in the lives of young people,” stated the Fund’s CEO, Yvon Bolduc.
“This fund is a success because of the stakeholders’ commitment and because of the enthusiasm of the students, who discover Québec from various angles. I’m sure that this work experience has sparked their curiosity and inspired many of them to further their studies. The testimonials of the participants over the last ten years have been very gratifying and tell us that we should be continuing in this direction,” said Jean Martin, the president and CEO of the Fonds étudiant solidarité travail Québec.
To be eligible, the summer jobs must contain an educational component that guides the students towards a stimulating field of study, and a social component that helps them learn about Québec’s socio-economic reality and that teaches them about the importance of solidarity and their role as partners in the development of Québec’s society. The program is open to high school, college and university students from all regions of Québec.
About the Solidarity Fund QFL
With net assets of $7.3 billion as at May 31, 2008, the Solidarity Fund QFL is a development capital company that through its RRSP channels the savings of Quebecers into investments in all sectors of the economy to help create and maintain jobs and to further Québec's economic growth. The Fund is a partner, either directly or through its network members, in 1,881 companies. It currently has more than 575,000 shareholders and has helped, on its own or with other financial partners, to create, maintain and protect over 126,000 jobs. For more information, visit www.fondsftq.com.
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Note: The telephone number provided below is for the exclusive use of journalists and other media representatives. Source : Josée Lagacé
Senior Advisor, Press Relations and Communications
Fonds de solidarité FTQ
Telephone : 514 850-4835
Email : jlagace@fondsftq.com