Governments of Canada and Ontario reach agreement to give more people the tools they need to find and keep good jobs

Building a skilled, competitive, resilient, responsive workforce

May 2, 2018                  Scarborough, Ontario             Employment and Social Development Canada

By investing directly in Canada’s greatest asset—its resilient, hardworking people—the Governments of Canada and Ontario are helping ensure that the economic growth we create is the kind of growth that works for everyone.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, together with the Honourable Mitzie Hunter, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, announced that the two governments have signed agreements that will see Canada provide Ontario with over $6 billion over six years to invest in Ontario’s workers. These agreements represent an increase in funding of over $800 million over the period, compared to previous funding levels. This increase means an estimated 180,000 more Ontario workers will benefit over the six years.

Speaking at the United Association Local 46, the Ministers said that these agreements will significantly increase the jobs and skills training available to people in Ontario, including training programs, work placements, employer-sponsored training, job search assistance, career counselling and more. 

Through these new agreements, the Government of Canada is ensuring more people benefit from these programs then before—including people from groups typically under‑represented in our workforce, such as people with disabilities, women and Indigenous people.

As innovation and technology continue to change how we live and work, people in Ontario and across Canada are met with new challenges and new opportunities. That is why it is more important than ever before to ensure everybody has the opportunity to benefit from an innovation-driven economy—and that means ensuring that both employed and unemployed people have opportunities to acquire the skills they will need for the jobs of today as well as the jobs of tomorrow.

The agreements announced today are the new Workforce Development Agreement (WDA) and the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA). In the first two years Ontario will receive approximately $1.97 billion—more than $593 million through the WDA and more than $1.37 billion through the LMDA.

Results matter. That is why these agreements include a commitment to performance measurement. That means that Canada and Ontario will be able to measure how programs are increasing people’s earnings, helping them get jobs that last, and breaking down barriers for under‑represented groups like Indigenous people, people with disabilities and women. The Government of Canada will be reporting to Canadians on the impacts of these programs, so that they are transparent and so that they can be continually improved.

The WDA will help Ontario deliver training and services, such as:

·        the Youth Job Connection program, which offers training, incentives and supports to youth who face barriers;

·        skills training for people on social assistance to participate in skills training through Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program; and

·        free adult education classes that help students improve reading, writing, math, computer and other essential skills to prepare them for education, training or better jobs.

Funding under the LMDA will allow Ontario to help more people and more employers meet their needs, though measures such as:

·        helping job seekers find work;

·        matching employers with potential employees through Employment Service;

·        helping unemployed workers get training or post-secondary education through the Second Career program; and

·        helping employers with training costs for employees.

Many of the programs and services supported by these agreements are delivered through the Employment Ontario network of service providers, which helped approximately 1 million people in 2016–17, including over 62,300 employers across Ontario.

Every Ontarian deserves a fair and equal chance at success in the workforce. Through smart investments like the agreements announced today, we can strengthen our middle class and help more of the people working so hard to join it.