Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan finalize agreements to help people in Saskatchewan get jobs

Key agreements signed for skills training and employment programs

REGINA, Aug. 25, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and the Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan Minister Responsible for Immigration, Jobs, Skills, and Training, announced today that two agreements have been signed by the governments of Canada and Saskatchewan to help connect Canadians with available jobs.

The Canada-Saskatchewan Job Fund Agreement invests in initiatives that respond to labour market needs. It also provides funding for programs and services that support the labour market readiness of under-represented groups such as First Nations and Métis people and people with low literacy levels.

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 put more skin in the game, the Canada Job Grant will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs.

The Government of Saskatchewan will be accepting inquiries regarding applications via their provincial website as of September 2, 2014.

Also signed today was the new Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD). 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. The LMAPDs are the single largest federal government investment in helping Canadians with disabilities get jobs. Under this agreement, the Government of Canada will provide over $10.8 million per year to Saskatchewan, a contribution that will be matched by the province.

Quick Facts

• According to the 2013 Saskatchewan Employment Forecast, Saskatchewan expects to need 35,000 new workers and almost 60,000 replacement workers in the next five years.
• The Canada Job Grant will provide employers with up to $10,000 for training costs for an individual worker, including tuition and training materials.
• 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 Saskatchewan economy."
- The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development

"Saskatchewan continues to be a leader in Canada in terms of economic growth. Today's announcement will allow Saskatchewan businesses to invest in training that will equip their workers with the skills they need to prosper in today's economy. We look forward to The Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant being a tool our employers use to develop a skilled workforce and address the labour market challenges that have emerged as a result of our economic growth."
- The Honourable Jeremy Harrison, Saskatchewan Minister Responsible for Immigration, Jobs, Skills, and Training

"The Canada Job Grant is an excellent way to increase value for money in training delivery. It means all stakeholders work together for the sake of the learner and ultimately the economy. The Canadian Building Trades strongly supports this program."
- Robert Blakely, Director of Canadian Affairs, Canada's Building Trades Unions

Associated Links

Canada Job Grant
Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities

Backgrounder

Canada-Saskatchewan Job Fund

The Labour Market Agreements, created in 2007, are being transformed into the new Canada Job Fund 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. Saskatchewan will continue to receive approximately $16 million—its per capita share of the $500 million.

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. Saskatchewan will be developing the Canada Job Grant over the coming months.

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 will be for short-duration training provided by an eligible third-party trainer, such as community colleges, career colleges, trade union centres and private trainers. Training may 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, once 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 will 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:

• The 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 LMAPDs represents an investment of $222 million per year by the Government of Canada in the provinces and territories; $10.8 million per year for programs and services in Saskatchewan. 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.

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada