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Oroo Weliy Tmes WenesayNovembeýr 27, 1996 - 7 From Parliam ent' Hill1 Alex Shepherd, M.P. Durham l'in absolutely dum bfounded when 1 listen to company after company, ýweek after week, in my position as Industry Committee member, telling me they can't find applicants who meet basic requirements for entry-level jobs in high tech industries. Shouldn't our youth be ready to take their place in high tech jobs that are ready for themn right now? Our economy is marching along wîth higher corporate profits and record export sales but at the same time excluding youth. Society has got to understand youth unemploy- ment is not solely the concemn of young people. Ages 23 to 45 are tradition- ally the high income earning years. If someone is relegated te, the sidelines durmng the early partof this period it has a tremendous impact on one's financial security. It's true that historically young people experience higher levels of unemployment but it's no secret that we are living in an era -of change moving fromn the manufacturing base econo- my to, the knowledge-based one. The skills needed now are in science and technologY. This doesn't mean ail young people are going to be. or need to be. computer engineers or labora- tory scientists in biomedical research. It, loes mean the writing is on the wall; gettmng a job is now a horse race. Put your money on the old economy and you are probably destined to experience a lifetime of job hunting and layoffs. To put it another way, if you choose accounting go with a firm that deals in pharmaceuti- cals. Unfortunately for us many young people do not have an appreciation of our changing economy. Why is it that youth fails to pick careers in science? We're alI guilty. We've promoted the philosophy that we should all be doctors, and lawyers., 1Also sciences are thought to be somewhat harder. Recently I heard one teacher quip, "if you can't spell it don't study it." SHere in an interesting statis- tic. Less than one per cent of our secondary school teachers teaching science have a degree in science. Shouldn't that change? So what do we do about the problema of youth unemploy- ment? We need a shift in the way we view the job market and tell you th ther triuth aý bout where the economy vis headed. First sýily pur-V sul ig a po(st secondairy eduIcation iniia 1fId bcuewe hke (-itdos' e nsu;Lre a career. (Fo)r those of you who have children the age of miine 1 apologIize flor any future arguments thI-at ensue around the dinner table.) Secondly science, to me any- way, is fascinating. We have to impress thiis uplon students. Obviously teaching and school guidance in this area has to change. The federal government sponsors many youth intercept programs that recognize some students have left school early and need to upgrade skills. Many of these prograrns are in the area of computer technolo- gy where jobs.are being created. Every home, every level of government and every teacher will have to take responsibility for telling youth how to best ready themselves for their employment future. It starts at home and ends in the schools. Not the other way around.' We can't be negative about the future either. It is bright for those who will be ready for the opportunities that exist and those opportunities exist now. rE1rdlectro1ysis Tired' of tweezing and shaving? Get rid of unwanted hair permanenfly. Free consultation. Body waxing available. Call Gail for appointment at 905-983- 9790. Bowmanville Toastmasters At a recent Toastmaster Meeting Chairmian Irenle Konzelmann selected "change" as her theme. Whlen questioned about their attitudes toward change mem- bers of the head table expressed a variety of opinions ranging from change as a challenge to change as an opportunýity. Continuing the theme Table Topîcs Master Toastmaster Gordon West challenged memr- bers to change themselves into various historical figures and describe the differences this would create in their lives. The winner of the best speaker trophy Toastmaster Toby Smits delivered speech #2 from "The Communications and Leadership Manual". In fulfilling the requiremients for this assignment Toastmaster Smits persuade, d us of his sincerity and convic- tion regarding the need to mon- itor the media influences on our children. Corne and join us for an evening to watch Toastmasters -in action. We meet Tuesday evenings 7:30 at "The Darlington Hydro Information Centre". For more information please cali Irene Konzelmann at 905-983-9423. Ogeolo7f2eei-Aly mes Choose From Our Book By Rainbow Invitations Or Have Us Design One Unique For You! U Pma 15 GANARASKA LEATHEFRCR.,AFT' lex d. AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR: Tandy Ur*ift - ThieLeather Factory M 15 Bristol Leathers 401 Closed Wednesdays 8335 Hwy. 35/115, Orono LOB i MO (905) 983-9540