Wasylycia-Leis pledges to create 120 job-training positions

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This article was published 13/09/2010 (5804 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Mayoral candidate Judy Wasylycia-Leis has pledged to create 120 job-training positions over the next four years in an effort to encourage young people to leave criminal gangs.

The former NDP MP and MLA told reporters today she would use city workers to mentor or train at-risk people and ex-offenders to help the city repave back lanes, prune trees, board up derelict buildings and conduct other duties.

She predicted the program will cost somewhere between $3 million and $4 million a year. She suggested Ottawa and Manitoba may help out through job-training programs for Aboriginal youths at risk of becoming involved in gangs.

The model for the program is an existing program called BUILD, which receives $3 million in provincial funding to train 65 ex-offenders and at-risk young people every year. About half that money is recouped through construction contracts from Manitoba Housing.

Wasylycia-Leis described this pledge as the second plank in a five-point crime prevention program that has also seen her promise to expand a community watch program and get city workers to assist police.

She said incumbent mayor Sam Katz has failed to elucidate a coherent crime-prevention plan after six years in office.

At city hall, Katz told reporters the city already funds a variety of Aboriginal job-training programs. He suggested Wasylycia-Leis appears to be endorsing his policies.