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<p><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">November 7, 2005 <i>(10:00 a.m. EST)</i><br>
No. 206</span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">GOVERNMENT OF CANADA HIGHLIGHTS CONTINUED SUCCESS OF</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 14pt">YOUNG PROFESSIONALS INTERNATIONAL INITIATIVE</span><span style="font-size: 14pt"></span></span></p>
<br>
<p>Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew and International Trade Minister Jim Peterson
today praised the continued success of the Young Professionals International (YPI)
initiative. They noted that, this year, 360 young Canadian graduates have received
international placements in their fields of study as a result of a $5.8-million contribution
from the Government of Canada. </p>
<br>
<p>The ministers also expressed their gratitude to the partner organizations that continue
to make such international placements for young people possible. They welcomed the
fact that 70 non-governmental organizations, teaching establishments and companies
have submitted placement proposals for 2006-07.</p>
<br>
<p>“It’s never too soon to make young Canadians aware of international issues,” said
Minister Pettigrew. “Through this program, Canadian graduates can directly apply their
energy and knowledge in a range of organizations, and help expand our nation’s
influence abroad.”</p>
<br>
<p>“This exciting program helps young people develop the international perspective they
need to be competitive in today’s rapidly evolving global marketplace,” said Minister
Peterson. “I encourage participants to share the new ideas and skills they have
acquired with other Canadians upon their return.”</p>
<br>
<p>YPI is a partnership between government, Canadian organizations and host
organizations around the world. It gives young Canadians valuable networking
opportunities, exposure to foreign cultures and first-hand experience with the
complexities of work at the international level. Since its inception in 1997, the YPI
initiative has provided over 4,000 post-secondary graduates with international
employment opportunities in their fields of study. </p>
<br>
<p>Information on current placements is available on the YPI Web site at
<a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220185333/https://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/youth/ypi-jpi/menu-en.asp"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">https://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/youth/ypi-jpi/menu-en.asp</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000">.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Funding for this program was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget and is
therefore built into the existing fiscal framework. </span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000">- 30 -</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">A backgrounder is attached.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">For further information, media representatives may contact:</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">James Christoff<br>
Press Secretary<br>
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs<br>
(613) 995-1851</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Jacqueline LaRocque</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Director of Communications<br>
Office of the Minister of International Trade<br>
(613) 992-7332<span> </span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Media Relations Office<br>
Foreign Affairs Canada and International Trade Canada<br>
(613) 995-1874<br>
</span><a href="https://bac-lac.wayback.archive-it.org/web/20070220185333/http://www.international.gc.ca/"><span style="color: #0000ff"><span style="text-decoration: underline">http://www.international.gc.ca</span></span></a><span style="color: #000000"></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span> </span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">Backgrounder</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p style="text-align: center"><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-size: 14pt"><span style="font-weight: bold">PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS FOR 2005-06</span></span></span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Working with partner organizations around the world, the Government of Canada’s
Young Professionals International (YPI) initiative provides Canadian post-secondary
graduates with the opportunity to work abroad in positions directly related to their fields
of study. The program’s goals are consistent with the federal government’s
commitment, as outlined in Canada’s International Policy Statement, to offer young
people more opportunities to gain international work experience.</span></p>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Partner organizations establish placement projects, which are then approved by the
federal government. These organizations also provide ongoing personal and
professional support to the participants during their placement abroad, and help
graduates put their skills into practice.</span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-weight: bold">Projects related to foreign affairs </span></span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Acadia University: 10 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Action Mines Canada—The Youth Mine Action Ambassador Program: 8 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada: 8 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">The Atlantic Council of Canada: 10 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">CANADEM: 15 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian Bar Association: 10 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian Foundation for the Americas (FOCAL): 5 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian Museums Association: 10 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian National Institute for the Blind: 4 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian Society for International Health: 5 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Commonwealth of Learning: 11 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">École du Barreau du Québec: 10 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Ghost River Rediscovery: 7 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Hispanic Development Council: 6 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Human Rights Internet: 10 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">International Institute for Sustainable Development: 7 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">International Social Service Canada: 5 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Journalists for Human Rights: 5 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">National Council on Canada-Arab Relations: 10 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Pacific Peoples’ Partnership: 8 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Project Ploughshares: 10 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Rights & Democracy (International Centre for Human Rights and Democratic
Development): 8 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">United Nations Association in Canada: 15 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">University of Saskatchewan—Native Law Centre: 9 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">University of Victoria—Centre for Asia-Pacific Initiatives: 7 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">University of Victoria—International Institute for Child Rights and Development: 5
participants</span></p>
<br>
<br>
<p><span style="color: #000000"><span style="font-weight: bold">Projects related to international trade</span> </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Assembly of First Nations: 3 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Association nationale des éditeurs de livres: 5 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian Federation of Agriculture: 8 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Canadian Film and Television Production Association: 11 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Centre des jeunes francophones de Toronto: 3 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">College of the Rockies: 6 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Educ-Inter Inc.: 8 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Environmental Youth Alliance: 5 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Falls Brook Centre: 5 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">HorizonCosmopolite: 5 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">International Institute for Sustainable Development: 6 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Langara College: 12 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Memorial University of Newfoundland—Faculty of Arts: 7 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Memorial University of Newfoundland—Marine Institute: 5 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">New Brunswick Community College: 5 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Niagara College: 7 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Saint Mary’s University: 8 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Shawinigan International: 5 participants</span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Université de Moncton—Faculté de foresterie: 5 participants </span></p>
<p><span style="color: #000000">Université du Québec à Montréal—École des sciences de la gestion: 10 participants</span></p>
University of Toronto—Centre for Russian and East European Studies: 13 participants</span></p>
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