THUNDER BAY — Over half a million dollars is being invested into student internships in the northwest.
This week, both MP Patty Hajdu and MP Marcus Powlowski announced thousands of dollars is being invested by FedNorfor into various youth internship opportunities across Northwestern Ontario.
The first portion of funding, $379,500 is for 24 youth internship placements over three years. This funding is specifically going towards the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre (NOIC) to deliver its Youth Effect Program.
This program for people 18 to 29 years old is for "learning and training with local businesses and focuses on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation in Northwestern Ontario," the website said. This is a 15-week paid program.
The Northern Policy Institute will receive $110,000 for two youth internship positions focusing on transportation analysis and research.
Hajdu, member of Parliament for Thunder Bay-Superior North, said these roles would examine transportation priorities for Northern Ontario.
"That seems to be critically important, as we've seen the decline of transportation options in Northern Ontario - whether it's through the elimination of Greyhound lines or, you know, back when I was a young person, Via Rail used to go through Thunder Bay, and it no longer does. Many people have spoken about that for years.
"Obviously, the North is vast, and interconnections are a huge challenge for our region."
The federal government has earmarked $36,800 for a youth internship with the Lakehead University Agricultural Research Station to support research projects and stakeholder engagement.
The remaining $35,000 will be used by the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy to create a policy analyst youth internship position focused on forest bio-economics.
Katie Nicholls is a Local Journalism Initiative Reporter with Newswatch
