More than 500 new summer jobs for N.L. students this year

There are more student summer jobs than ever this year in Newfoundland and Labrador, at leastunder the Canada Summer Jobs Program.

The federal government spent an extra $1.2 million this year to fund 3,623summer jobs in the province, an increase of 582 from last year.

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Avalon MP Ken McDonald said the government tried to focus on areas with higher unemployment, particularly in rural Newfoundland.

"In today's economy a lot of parents are not working....If you can get a summer student a job,it takes some burden off of the parents as well," he said Friday.

"That student will earn a paycheque for the summer, may be able to save a few dollars to help pay the tuition when they go back to school."

Ottawa doubled funding for the Canada Summer Jobs program earlier this year, approving more than 77,000 summer jobs for students across Canada.

Funding for next three years

The federal program will provide19 per cent more jobs than last year.

McDonald said the extra funding will be in place for the next three years.

The Canada Summer Jobs program gives money to not-for-profit organizations, public-sector employers and small businesses to create positions for people aged 15 to 30.

McDonald said there are a wide variety of jobs, from recreation positions to working with church groups.

'There's not a lot of employment in a very rural community, especially when it comes to student employment," he told CBC News.

"The newcomers are excited just to have a job."

The jobs are available for full-time students who are returning to school in the fall.