Government officials in Quebec announced yesterday the awarding of C$90,000 (about $85,000) in funding for Operation Jeunesse, a project to help young post-secondary graduates in the province gain career-related work experience. Through the project, the nonprofit economic development agency Quebec Metro High Tech Park is giving 12 young people with post-secondary diplomas the chance to gain work experience in industries such as life sciences, optics, photonics, new materials and information technology in one of the park's firms. "The goal is to help them develop advanced skills that will enable them to pursue careers and become leaders in their chosen fields," said Luc Harvey, a member of parliament.