Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia recognize the first Canada Job Grant awarded in Nova Scotia

ONSLOW, NS, Feb. 10, 2015 /CNW/ - Scott Armstrong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Democratic Reform, along with MLA Terry Farrell, on behalf of the Honourable Kelly Regan, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education for Nova Scotia, today recognized Fowler Construction Services Limited, a construction company in Truro, one of many Nova Scotia businesses to receive funding through the Canada Job Grant.

Fowler Construction Services, a small company with eight employees, will receive over $16,000 through the Canada Job Grant. This will allow the company to provide Gold Seal Certification training to three current employees. Fowler Construction Services is investing an additional $6,372. It is expected that this training program will support the company to build the in-house competencies needed to achieve its goals of increased efficiency, productivity and profitability.

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 partner in training investments, the Canada Job Grant will result in skills training that leads to guaranteed jobs.

The Canada 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 federal contributions. Nova Scotia delivers the Canada Job Grant through its existing Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (WIPSI). WIPSI is a funding incentive designed to encourage employers to invest in employee skills through training to improve productivity and innovation.

Nova Scotia is accepting employer applications for the Canada Job Grant. Employers are encouraged to apply at http://novascotia.ca/econ/pip/wipsi.

Quick Facts                                      

• According to BuildForce Canada, Nova Scotia's construction industry will need to step up efforts to attract more young people, as more than 6 000 workers are planning to retire over the next 10 years.
• According to the provincial occupational forecasting system, health related occupations in Nova Scotia are expected to increase the fastest with 1 128 positions being created from 2011 to 2016.
• By 2017–18, over $7.9 million per year will be available for the Canada Job Grant in Nova Scotia.
• The Canada Job Grant is strongly supported by employers and other stakeholders including:
  • Aerospace Industry Association of Canada;
  • Building and Construction Trades Department, the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organizations;
  • Canadian Construction Association;
  • Canadian Electricity Association;
  • Canadian Federation of Independent Business;
  • Canadian Home Builders' Association;
  • Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating;
  • Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters;
  • Canadian Shipowners Association;
  • Canadian Welding Bureau;
  • Chemistry Industry Association of Canada;
  • Christian Labour Association of Canada;
  • Engineers Canada;
  • Information Technology Association of Canada;
  • Merit Canada;
  • National Association of Career Colleges;
  • Polytechnics Canada;
  • Progressive Contractors Association; and,
  • Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada.
• See more at: http://pm.gc.ca/eng/news/2014/10/10/pm-announces-first-recipient-canada-job-grant#sthash.SVcSNjcB.dpuf

Quotes

"A qualified and skilled workforce is the key to a strong economy and the Canada Job Grant puts training decisions in the hands of employers with available jobs, where they belong. Fowler Construction Services is a great example of how the Canada Job Grant is helping workers in Nova Scotia get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs."
- Scott Armstrong, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment and Social Development and Member of Parliament for Cumberland–Colchester–Musquodoboit Valley

"Nova Scotia has the potential for strong economic and employment growth over the coming years. By helping employers like Fowler Construction Services invest in workers, the Canada Job Grant is providing new and better job opportunities for Nova Scotians, as well as helping to develop the skilled workforce Nova Scotia's economy needs."
- The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Member of Parliament for Central Nova

"Nova Scotia businesses need to be innovative if they want to stay competitive in today's economy. The Canada Job Grant allows us to continue to help our businesses access the training they need to develop their skilled workforce. We're committed to connecting more people with jobs and more employers with the workers they need—and that is exactly what this funding provides."
- The Honourable Kelly Regan, Minister of Labour and Advanced Education

"The Canada Job Grant has helped me and two of my key employees to further our professional goals. We greatly appreciate the opportunity to use the available funding to achieve our Gold Seal Certification. With upcoming tender requirements surrounding certification, it certainly will allow us access to more work."
- Hal Fowler, President of Fowler Construction Services Limited

Related Product

Backgrounder

Associated Links

Canada Job Grant 
Workplace Innovation and Productivity Skills Incentive (Nova Scotia)

Backgrounder

Canada–Nova Scotia 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.

Nova Scotia will continue to receive approximately $13 million—its per capita share of the $500 million.

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.

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 government contributions. 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 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;
• 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.

SOURCE Canada's Economic Action Plan

Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]; Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Jobs_Emplois; Chrissy Matheson, Labour and Advanced Education, Nova Scotia, 902-424-0281, Cell: 902-219-3121, Email: [email protected]