Governments of Canada and New Brunswick launch the Canada Job Grant to help New Brunswickers get jobs

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Jan 16, 2015, 12:30 ET

EDMUNDSTON, NB, Jan. 16, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche, on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Honourable Francine Landry, New Brunswick Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour, today announced that New Brunswick is accepting employer applications for the Canada Job Grant and encouraged employers to apply. The Canada Job Grant initiative is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs.

The Canada Job Grant is designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. By requiring employers to put more skin in the game, the Canada Job Grant will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs.

The Canada Job Grant will provide up to $15,000 per person for training costs, such as tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in federal contributions. For details on how to apply for the Canada Job Grant in New Brunswick, please visit: http://www.gnb.ca/petl.

Quick Facts

Between November 2013 and November 2014, New Brunswick employment in the services-producing sector increased by 5,200 jobs
Economists forecast real GDP growth of nearly two per cent in New Brunswick for 2015, based on anticipated improvements in the forestry and mining sectors.
New Brunswick will deliver the Canada Job Grant, and by 2017–18, the province will commit over $6.3 million per year to the grant.

Quotes

"Our Government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. The Canada Job Grant is part of our commitment to address the paradox of too many Canadians without jobs in an economy of too many jobs without Canadians. With employers' skin in the game, the Canada Job Grant will lead to a guaranteed job. Helping employers train Canadians for jobs that need to be filled will help their businesses grow and succeed. And that is good news for the New Brunskwick economy."
– The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development

"The Canada Job Grant will help workers in New Brunswick get the skills they need to fill available jobs in today's economy. Today's announcement is great news for workers and their families across the province."
–The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development and Member of Parliament for Madawaska-Restigouche

"We are pleased to be working together with the Government of Canada so employers can access training grants to better equip their employees for success in the workforce. We are encouraged by the interest we have already received from both large and small companies."
-The Honourable Francine Landry, Minister of the Department of Post-Secondary Education New Brunswick

Associated Links

Canada Job Grant
Canada Job Grant (New Brunswick)

Backgrounder

Canada–New Brunswick Job Fund Agreement

The Labour Market Agreements have been transformed into the new Canada Job Fund agreements to ensure greater employer involvement in training. Nationally, the Government of Canada will continue to provide $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training through the Canada Job Fund, which includes the Canada Job Grant.

New Brunswick will continue to receive approximately $11 million—its per capita share of the $500 million. By 2017-18 a total of approximately $300 million per year will be invested nationally in the Canada Job Grant.

The provinces and territories will have full flexibility on the source of funds for the Canada Job Grant. They may be sourced from provincial/territorial allocations under the Canada Job Fund, the Labour Market Development Agreements or provincial/territorial sources.

Canada Job Grant

The Canada Job Grant will help Canadians get the training they need for available jobs and put skills training decisions in the hands of employers. It will provide up to $15,000 per person for training costs, such as tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in government contributions. Employers will be required to contribute one-third of theses training costs.

The Canada Job Grant will be for short-duration training provided by eligible third-party trainers, such as community colleges, career colleges, trade union centres and private trainers. Training can be provided in a variety of settings including a classroom, on site at a workplace or online.

All private and not-for-profit businesses with a plan to train Canadians for a new or better job will be eligible to apply for a Canada Job Grant, once it is implemented.

The Canada Job Grant will be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. Small businesses may benefit from flexible arrangements, such as the potential to count wages as part of the employer contribution. This will help ensure that all businesses, regardless of size, can fully participate in the Canada Job Grant.

The Canada Job Grant will ensure that employers participate meaningfully as partners in the skills training system, sharing in the associated costs. This will ensure that training is better aligned with job opportunities, particularly in sectors facing skills mismatches and labour shortages.

The Canada Job Grant is strongly supported by employers and other stakeholders, including: