Everyone remembers their first summer job.

It was an important moment in all of our lives as we made the first step toward financial independence. It taught us valuable skills and lessons. And it helped us to build confidence.

Our government recognizes the importance of summer jobs not just to the students who find employment, but for the future of Ontario.

This is why, in an effort to help Ontario students get a jump start on the summer job market, the McGuinty government has launched our annual Summer Jobs program.

More than 100,000 students will find jobs and gain important work experience this summer with assistance from the Ontario government.

Whether you want to find a job, start your own business, or come and work for the Government of Ontario this summer, there's lots of work available through Ontario's summer jobs programs.

Through Employment Ontario's Summer Jobs website, www.ontario.ca/summerjobs, students can find job listings, get help to improve their marketing skills and resumé writing, learn how to start their own Summer Company, or apply for summer jobs with the Ontario Government.

To qualify for the Summer Jobs Service program, you must meet two criteria. First, you must be between 15 to 30 years of age. Second, you must be planning to return to school in the fall. Other Ontario Summer Jobs 2010 programs may have different age criteria, depending on the individual program.

But our government is doing more than just helping students find work. We are also offering incentives to encourage employers to hire students.

To assist employers interested in hiring a summer student, our government is offering a $2-per-hour hiring incentive, which they can apply for through their local Employment Ontario office. Businesses and farms as well as not-for-profit and other community organizations can apply to receive the hiring incentive. The hiring incentive for employers can last up to 16 weeks, and is available from April 1 to September 30.

But employers looking to benefit from the program need to give it some thought to sooner rather than later. The closing date for rural employers to apply for the hiring incentive applications to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is April 16th; for employers in northern Ontario to apply to the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry, it's April 30th.

Summer jobs are an important experience for young people. It helps them gain valuable work experience. And it helps them earn money to continue their studies, and contribute to Ontario’s future.

For more information on the Ontario Summer Jobs Program, visit www.ontario.ca/summerjobs or contact my Constituency Office at 416-630-0080.