IQALUIT, NU, Sept. 22, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Member of Parliament for Nunavut, on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Nunavut Minister of Family Services, the Honourable Jeannie Ugyuk, today announced that two agreements have been signed by the governments of Canada and Nunavut to help connect Canadians with available jobs.
Through the Canada Job Fund, the Government of Canada will provide $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training. Under the Canada–Nunavut Job Fund Agreement, Nunavut will receive a total of $1 million—its per capita share of the available funding, plus $500,000 in supplementary funding to recognize the distinct labour market needs of the territory. This is a 100-percent increase in annual funding to Nunavut compared to the original agreement.
The Canada Job Fund includes the creation of the Canada Job Grant, which is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. It 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–Nunavut Job Grant as it will become known in Nunavut will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs.
Also signed today was the new Canada–Nunavut Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD). The LMAPDs are the single largest federal government investment to help Canadians with disabilities get jobs. With increased employer involvement and a stronger focus on demonstrating the best possible results for Canadians, the new agreement will better connect Canadians with disabilities with available jobs. This is the first time this agreement has been available to the territory. Under this agreement, the Government of Canada will provide $1.25 million per year to Nunavut, a contribution that will be matched by the territory.
Quick Facts
- According to the Conference Board of Canada, Nunavut's real gross domestic product is expected to grow by 3.7 percent in 2015.
- The mining industry in Nunavut will be one of the most important economic drivers in the years ahead. It is expected that Nunavut's Meliadine Mine alone will generate approximately 1,500 direct jobs a year over the next two years.
- 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.
- Approximately 800,000 working-age Canadians with disabilities who are able to work are not currently doing so. Almost half of these individuals have some post-secondary education.
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 Nunavut economy."
– The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development
"Our government has been clear that Nunavummiut must benefit from the economic boom in the region. The Canada Job Grant will give the people of Nunavut the skills employers are looking for in today's economy. This new initiative will lead to guaranteed jobs, which will further the economic success of Nunavut and its people."
– The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Member of Parliament for Nunavut
"The well‑being of families and individuals is in large measure linked to access to good jobs, which directly links to Sivumut Abluqta, our government's mandate. With these agreements, we ensure that additional financial resources are available to connect Nunavummiut with the education and training they need to compete for jobs that are available now and in the future. Our aim is that all Nunavummiut can fully participate in our growing economy."
– The Honourable Jeannie Ugyuk, Minister of Family Services
Associated Links
Canada Job Grant
Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities
Backgrounder
Canada–Nunavut Job Fund
The Labour Market Agreements, created in 2007, are being 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. Nunavut will receive a total of $1 million—$500,000 for its per capita share of the available funding, plus $500,000 in supplementary funding to recognize the distinct labour market needs of the territories.
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 federal contributions. Employers will be required to contribute on average one-third of the total costs of training.
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.
The Canada Job Grant funds short-duration training provided by an eligible third-party trainer, including community colleges, career colleges, trade union centres and private trainers. The training can be provided in 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. 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 is strongly supported by employers and other stakeholders including:
- Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO;
- National Association of Career Colleges;
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business;
- Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters;
- Canadian Construction Association;
- Information Technology Association of Canada;
- Canadian Welding Bureau;
- Engineers Canada;
- Progressive Contractors Association;
- Christian Labour Association of Canada;
- Canadian Home Builders' Association;
- Canadian Shipowners Association;
- Canadian Electricity Association;
- Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating;
- Merit Canada;
- Polytechnics Canada;
- Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada;
- Chemistry Industry Association of Canada; and
- Aerospace Industry Association of Canada.
Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities
As announced in the Economic Action Plan, this new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities represents an investment of $222 million per year by the Government of Canada in the provinces and territories. This will allow provinces and territories flexibility to determine how to best address the needs of Canadians with disabilities, while helping Canadian businesses benefit from their skills and talent.
Additional support for Canadians with disabilities
Through Economic Action Plan 2014, the Government of Canada is providing:
- $15 million over three years to the Ready, Willing & Able initiative of the Canadian Association for Community Living to help connect Canadians with developmental disabilities with jobs; and
- $11.4 million over four years to support the expansion of vocational training programs for Canadians with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
To further help Canadians with disabilities in the workforce, the Government:
- announced a $10 million increase in ongoing support for the Opportunities Fund, to $40 million annually. The Opportunities Fund helps Canadians with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and keep employment, or become self-employed.
- extended the Enabling Accessibility Fund on an ongoing basis at $15 million per year to improve accessibility in facilities across Canada, including workplaces; and
- provided funding of $7 million per year for the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, some of which will support research related to the labour market participation of people with disabilities.
PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2014/09/22/20140922_C2387_PDF_EN_5823.pdf
SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada
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