Progressive Contractors Association of Canada Welcomes Federal and Provincial "Agreement in Principle" on Canada Job Grant

OTTAWA, Feb. 28, 2014 /CNW/ - Today, the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) welcomed news that the federal and provincial governments have reached an "agreement in principle" on the Canada Job Grant.

"PCA applauds Minister Kenney for working with his provincial counterparts to reach this key milestone in the process," said PCA Vice President, Federal and Ontario Sean Reid. "Negotiating the Canada Job Grant has been a highly intense endeavour and we know there's still work to be done but, at the end of the day, we must remember why it was created in the first place.  It's about fixing the skills shortages that hold back our economy, and creating real and better jobs for more Canadians."

PCA has been a staunch supporter of the Canada Job Grant since it was first announced.  Canadian construction businesses have long identified skills shortages and mismatches across several key trades and sectors and a solution was needed.  Today's agreement in principle leads Canada one step closer to ensuring that our training dollars go as far as possible to maximize the number of workers receiving training for real jobs.

"This agreement in principle is good news for Canadian workers.  It is also good news for Canada's economy.  The Canada Job Grant will help workers get the skills they need to gain employment and help tackle the skills shortages that threaten our continued economic growth and prosperity," concluded Reid.

About the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA)

PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada's construction industry. PCA member companies employ more than 25,000 skilled construction workers across Canada, represented primarily by CLAC. Our member companies are responsible for 40 percent of energy and natural resource construction projects in British Columbia and Alberta and are leaders in infrastructure construction across Canada.

PCA's goal is to ensure that Canada has a fair and open construction industry, cooperative labour relations, and a robust, inclusive and highly-capable workforce. PCA believes in open competition in which no sector is given artificial and unfair advantage over another on the basis of union affiliation or lack thereof.

SOURCE: Progressive Contractors Association of Canada

Media inquiries: Sean Reid, [email protected], [phone]