Governments of Canada and Ontario celebrate success of Canada Job Grant with new funding announcement

NORTH BAY, ON, July 16, 2015 /CNW/ - More than 21,000 workers in Ontario are receiving training to fill available jobs thanks to funding provided through the Canada Job Grant. The announcement was made today by the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming, and Glenn Thibeault, Member of Provincial Parliament for Sudbury on behalf of the Honourable Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Minister of Research and Innovation. To date, over 2,700 employers have been approved for funding to train new or current employees in Ontario.

The announcement took place at Cementation Canada in North Bay, Ontario, which has received over $43,000 through the Canada Job Grant, with an employer investment of an additional $21,600. This investment will be used to train 105 employees in project management, leadership and performance, and first aid. Cementation Canada is an underground mine contracting and engineering company providing services for clients throughout North and South America, and around the world.

The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. 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 Government provides two-thirds of total eligible training costs, up to $10,000, for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and student fees. 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.

Today's announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. The Government is also increasing the Universal Child Care Benefit, part of the new Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan. All families with children will benefit from the Plan, which includes not only the increased UCCB, but also the Family Tax Cut, the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children's Fitness Tax Credit.

Quick Facts           

• By 2017–18, approximately $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 http://www.tcu.gov.on.ca/eng/eopg/cojg/index.html.
• Under the increased UCCB, families will receive almost $2,000 per year for each child under 6 and $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17.

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

"A skilled workforce is fundamental to a strong economy. By helping employers invest in their workers, we are providing new and better job opportunities for people in Ontario. Cementation Canada is a great example of how the Canada Job Grant is helping local workers get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs."
– Jay Aspin, Member of Parliament for Nipissing–Timiskaming

"We know that there is no "one-size-fits-all" approach to skills training programs. That's why Ontario has worked so closely with job creators to maximize the flexibility and effectiveness of the Canada–Ontario Job Grant and other training programs. The quality of our skilled workforce has been and must continue to be Ontario's single greatest competitive advantage. I'm pleased that employers in northern Ontario like Cementation Canada are responding positively to this opportunity to invest in training and development opportunities for their workforce, with help from government."
– The Honourable Reza Moridi, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Minister of Research and Innovation

"I'm very pleased that the Government of Ontario is helping North Bay's development by providing new training to the workers at Cementation Canada. This is a great example of the knowledge economy our government is building, which will provide a myriad of benefits and opportunities to Northern Ontario."
– Glenn Thibeault, Member of Provincial Parliament for Sudbury

"Cementation has always been committed to the development of our employees, and we have great training and apprenticeship programs. However, our industry is cyclical in nature, and when the mining industry slows down, the training budget for a lot of companies is often a challenge. The timing and streamlined processing of the Canada Job Grant allowed us to continue high-quality training during a slow cycle, which was very important for us. This has provided opportunities for our people and allows us to improve not only our company, but our industry."
– Roy Slack, President, Cementation Canada

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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 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 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 Canada's Economic Action Plan

Aaron Bell, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Development, 819-994-2482, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]; Belinda Bien, Office of Minister Moridi, 647-823-5489; May Nazar, Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, [email protected], 416-325-2746