Governments of Canada and Ontario celebrate Canada Job Grant success

TORONTO, April 15, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and the Honourable Reza Moridi, Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, along with Mark Adler, Member of Parliament for York Centre, and Mario Sergio, Member of Provincial Parliament for York West, today announced that 9,000 workers in Ontario are receiving training thanks to funding provided through the Canada Job Grant. Approximately 1,600 employers have been approved for funding under the Canada Job Grant in Ontario.

The announcement took place at Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring, a manufacturing company with 150 employees in Toronto. The company is a successful Ontario recipient of funding that will train eight employees on software for inventory control and production scheduling, helping the company become more automated and efficient, saving time and money. This training will create better jobs and a stronger workforce within Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring, allowing the company to become more diverse and competitive, with the potential for significant growth.

The Canada Job Grant 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 invest in training costs, the Canada Job Grant will result in skills training that leads to guaranteed jobs.

Under the Canada Job Grant in Ontario, the federal government provides two-thirds of total eligible training costs, up to $10,000, for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and student fees, and the Ontario government delivers the program. Employers are required to contribute the remaining one-third of these training costs, while small businesses have additional flexibility to make an in-kind contribution towards their share of the cost through wages paid to the training participant.

Quick Facts                                      

• Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring will receive over $24,000 to train eight current employees.
• The company will invest an additional $12,000 in this training.
• On average, private-sector forecasters expect employment in Ontario to grow by 1.3 percent per year by 2017. Over the past three years, employment has increased by an annual average of 1.1 percent in Ontario.
• By 2017–18, over $115 million per year will be available for the Canada Job Grant in Ontario.
• Ontario is currently accepting employer applications for the Canada Job Grant. Employers are encouraged to apply at www.ontario.ca/employeetraining.

Quotes

"The Canada Job Grant is taking skills training choices out of the hands of government and putting them where they belong: in the hands of employers and Canadians who want to work. By having employers directly involved in training decisions, the Canada Job Grant will lead to guaranteed jobs and will help businesses grow and succeed. And that is good news for the Canadian economy."
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

"It's imperative that Ontario continue to develop a workforce with the right skills and knowledge for the new economy. That's why we've worked with Ontario's job creators to maximize the flexibility and effectiveness of the Canada–Ontario Job Grant and other job training programs. I'm pleased to see that employers have responded so positively, because Ontario's economy is stronger when everyone has the opportunity to find work and contribute to the province's growth."
–  The Honourable Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities

"The skills of our employees are an important part of the success of Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring. So we were pleased to have the opportunity to receive support from the Canada Job Grant for training which will contribute to achieving our goals for continued growth."
– Shmuel Zimmerman, Chief Executive Officer, Satin Finish Hardwood Flooring

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Canada Job Grant 
Canada Job Grant (Ontario)

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Backgrounder

Canada–Ontario 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.

Ontario will continue to receive over $191 million—its per capita share of the $500 million.

The provinces and territories have flexibility on the source of funds for the Canada Job Grant. They may be sourced from their allocations under the Canada Job Fund, the Labour Market Development Agreements or their own 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 can 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. The program is delivered by the Government of Ontario. Employers are required to contribute one-third of these training costs. By 2017–18, a total of approximately $300 million per year will be invested nationally in the Canada Job Grant.

The Canada Job Grant is 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 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 are eligible to apply for a Canada Job Grant.

The Canada Job Grant is 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:

• 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 of Canada;
• Christian Labour Association of Canada;
• Canadian Home Builders' Association;
• Canadian Shipowners Association;
• Canadian Electricity Association;
• Canadian Institute of Plumbing & Heating;
• Merit Canada;
• Polytechnics Canada;
• Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada;
• Chemistry Industry Association of Canada; and
• Aerospace Industries Association of Canada.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada