Federal budget 2016: Trudeau's pledge of jobs for young Canadians

Creating new opportunities and investing in the future of young Canadians is one of this Liberal government's top priorities.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeauset the tone byappointinghimself the Minister for Youth and spent his first day in officetaking questions from young students from various classrooms across the country through a GoogleHangout.

While the road ahead is paved with good intentions, it is clear that it won't comewithout challenges.

• Justin Trudeau marks 100 days with boost to summer jobs program

The truth is, 15 to 24 year olds aretwice as likely tobeunemployedthan Canadians 25 years or older.

Trudeau'sLiberals were elected on a pledge to create40,000 jobs for young Canadianseach year for the next three years, including 5,000 "green"jobs.

The prime minister,oncea high schoolteacherat a private school in Vancouver,marked his first 100 days in office by giving a big boost to a program that helps students clinchsummer jobs.

Lastyear, thefederal government spent $106 million on the program to help create more than 34,000 summer jobs.

Last month,Trudeau announced new funding of up to $113 million each year for the next three years which would make it possible for theprogram to offer nearly 70,000 summer jobs to students betweennow and 2018.

While Trudeau has been supportive of skilled trades a major area of focus for the previous Conservative government his government has shown aninterest in rebranding the country as a hub for technologyand innovation.

"Innovation helps drive the economy,"said Kirsty Duncan, Canada'snew minister of science.

Young Canadians canexpect to hearmore about thiswhen theTrudeaugovernment tables its first budget on March 22.