Canada Job Grant supports British Columbia employers and provides workers with skills training

SALMON ARM, BC, July 28, 2015 /CNW/ - Through the Canada Job Grant, employers in Salmon Arm will receive over $17,000 in funding to provide skills training to their employees. The announcement was made today by Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan–Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and by Greg Kyllo, Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan and MLA for Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour.

Mr. Mayes and Mr. Kyllo took the opportunity to congratulate seven separate local employers who received funding, including Eagle Home Sales, where the announcement took place. Eagle Home Sales, a family-run modular home business that employs 18 people in British Columbia, received a Canada Job Grant to train 11 employees in the areas of management, sales and customer service.

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 training that leads to available jobs.

The Job Grant provides up to $15,000 per person for training costs such as tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in government contributions.

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

To date, over 7,300 workers in British Columbia are receiving training through the Canada Job Grant, and over 1,400 employers have been approved for funding to train new or current employees.

Quick Facts

• By 2017–18, a total of approximately $300 million per year will be invested nationally in the Canada Job Grant.
• More than 78 percent of forecasted job demand will require some form of post-secondary education, 44 percent of which will need a college education or apprenticeship training.

Quotes

"Our Government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. 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 British Columbia's economy."
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

"The Canada Job Grant will help workers in British Columbia get the skills they need to fill available jobs in today's economy. This is great news for workers and their families across British Columbia. I encourage all local employers to consider their current and future skills needs and apply for a Canada Job Grant to help train new or current employees for available jobs."
– Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan–Shuswap

"A skilled workforce is fundamental to keeping B.C.'s economy diverse, strong and growing. By helping employers invest in their workers, we are providing new and better job opportunities for people in Salmon Arm. The opportunity Eagle Home Sales is providing its employees is a great example of how the Canada–B.C. Job Grant is helping local workers get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs."
– Greg Kyllo, Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan and MLA for Shuswap

"Our family business, Eagle Homes, recognizes that education is empowerment. We have always been committed to educating and training our staff. Eagle Homes believes that creating a knowledgeable and skilled staff is good for our clients, our community and our business. We are very pleased to participate in the Canada Job Grant, as this will help us acquire the skills we need to remain competitive."
– Jodi Bland, Eagle Homes Administrator and family member

Associated Links

Canada Job Grant
Canada Job Grant (British Columbia)

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Backgrounder

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Funding recipients:

Seven local employers in the community of Salmon Arm, British Columbia, have received a combined a total of over $17,000 in Canada Job Grant funding. Recipients include the following employers:

• Eagle Home Sales 
• Access Precision Machining
• Shuswap Bliss Day Spa
• Bayfield Mortgage
• Salmon Arm Savings and Credit Union
• Dinoflex
• Precision Aluminum Manufacturing

Canada–British Columbia Job Fund Agreement

As of April 1, 2014, the Labour Market Agreements were 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.

British Columbia is receiving approximately $65 million annually for 6 years (from 2014–15 to 2019–20)—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 is helping Canadians get the training they need for available jobs and putting 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 government contributions. Employers are required to contribute one-third of the 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

Contacts: Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]; Media Relations, Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour, British Columbia, 250-387-2799