On February 26th, the Toronto Community Benefits Network submitted a letter to the Economic and Community Development Committee encouraging the City to develop a Youth Employment Program strategy that centres youth voices and which maximizes the use of City levers. The letter outlines City policies, strategies and programs that should be reviewed and enhanced, with urgency, to maximize its full potential in creating meaningful opportunities for youth in priority neighbourhoods across Toronto.
The item was ultimately referred to the Executive Director, Social Development, Finance and Administration for further consideration, with a request to consult relevant City partners and include in a fourth quarter of 2025 report-back:
- An inventory of existing City of Toronto youth employment programs;
- Opportunities and resources required, including intergovernmental funding, for new or expanded City of Toronto youth employment programs, in order to achieve the target of up to 10,000 additional summer jobs for young people by 2026; and,
- Alignment of youth employment definitions, objectives and targets with City commitments, including but not limited to: Inclusive Economic Development Framework, and Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Year One Progress Report on the Action Plan for Toronto's Economy.
For more information, you can read the letter TCBN submitted to the committee here.