Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussein said that nearly $10 million of federal spending to support youth in Iraq will ultimately help Canada, as the investment supports stability in the region overall.

He said, "Our biggest focus in our Middle East strategy is Iraq... and the way Iraq goes is the way the rest of the region will go."

Hussein announced funding of $9.9 million in Windsor, Ontario, on Wednesday at St. Clair College.

The new funding will help cover the costs of five years of vocational and technical training through a partnership with two groups, World University Service Canada and Canadian Leaders in International Consulting. Both organizations have offices in Ottawa.

Hussein also said that since 2016, the federal government has spent $4.7 billion on its Middle East strategy. He added that the government is using this money to address extremism and also build post-conflict strategies.

He continued that Iraqi youth, for example, are now suffering from a worsening unemployment crisis that undermines economic security and is directly linked to the previous conflict in Iraq.

For his part, Liberal MP for Windsor-Tecumseh, Eric Kosmerchuk, said the announcement was made in Windsor in recognition of the large Iraqi community in the city, the college’s efforts as a leading educational institution, and Windsor’s role in international trade.

He added that about 700,000 young people enter the Iraqi labor market every year, but finding good jobs is a challenge.

He also said that the national youth unemployment rate is three times higher than that of adults, and it is worse for young women, who face additional challenges because of their gender.

"There is still much that training institutions and employers can do to ensure that youth are able to reach their full potential, and with our partners, we want to help them achieve that."