Governments of Canada and British Columbia sign agreement in principle on Canada Job Grant - Helping residents of British Columbia get training for guaranteed jobs

OTTAWA, March 11, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and the Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, today signed an agreement in principle on the Canada Job Grant.

Announced in Economic Action Plan 2013, the Canada Job Grant is an innovative way of delivering training that will lead to a guaranteed job. It involves employers in training decisions so that Canadians will be equipped with 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.

The Canada Job Grant is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to address the paradox of too many Canadians without jobs in an economy of too many jobs without Canadians.

Quick Facts

• According to BuildForce Canada, major resource and infrastructure projects in the North and the expected retirement of more than 34 000 tradespeople by 2023 will result in significant labour demand pressures in British Columbia's construction industry.
• Grant Thornton concluded that a liquefied natural gas industry in British Columbia, based on five plants operating by 2021, could create more than 39 000 annual jobs over a nine-year construction period and approximately 75 000 jobs once the plants were fully operational—more than 100 000 jobs in total. Statistics include direct, indirect and induced jobs.
• In the next 10 years, Canada is expected to need 319 000 new workers in the construction sector, with another 145 000 new workers in the mining sector and 130 000 new workers in the petroleum sector needed by 2020.

Quotes

"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. The Canada Job Grant will ensure that employers put more skin in the game and that skills training leads to a guaranteed job. This is good news for British Columbians, who will have better access to training that leads to real, guaranteed jobs and who will get a better bang for their buck on funding for skills training. It is also good news for the British Columbia economy, because the Canada Job Grant will increase employer investment in skills training and help employers train Canadians for jobs that need to be filled so their businesses can grow and succeed."
- The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development

"Our government is looking at the decade ahead to ensure our work today will meet the future training needs of the liquefied natural gas industry and the broad resource sector. The Canada Job Grant will be a key tool in making this happen. That is why we have always shared an important goal with the federal government—connecting British Columbians with the skills and the skilled trades they need to be first in line for the million job openings we expect over the coming decade."
- The Honourable Shirley Bond, British Columbia Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour

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Canada Job Grant

Backgrounder

The agreement in principle signed today includes the renewal of the Labour Market Agreement—now renamed the Canada Job Fund—and the creation of the Canada Job Grant.

Canada Job Fund

The current 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. British Columbia will continue to receive approximately $65 million—British Columbia's per capita share of the $500 million.

The Canada Job Fund will now include $200 million of employer-driven training, which may include funding for the Canada Job Grant or other existing employer-driven training programs. In British Columbia, this means approximately $26 million of its Canada Job Fund allocation will be spent on this employer-driven training.

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, including tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in federal contributions. Employers would be required to contribute on average one-third of the total costs of training.

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 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 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, 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 Association of Canada; and
• Aerospace Industry Association of Canada.

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada

Alexandra Fortier
Office of the Minister
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British Columbia Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour
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