About the Labour Market Development Agreements program

The Government of Canada understands the importance of helping Canadians get the training they need to find and keep good jobs. Each year, the Government of Canada provides over $2.1 billion to the provinces and territories under its Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs), for the design and delivery of Employment Insurance (EI)-funded skills training and employment assistance to Canadians.

New EI applicants and other eligible individuals are referred to local employment offices across the country for customized training and employment services, informed by career development officers who have real-time labour market information and knowledge of local employment opportunities.

The LMDAs support both employment benefits and support measures. Employment benefits, consisting of more intense measures - such as skills training, apprenticeships and other job placements, and targeted wage subsidies - are available to current and former EI claimants, as well as to individuals who have made minimum EI premium contributions in at least 5 of the last 10 years.

Support measures consist mainly of lighter-touch Employment Assistance Services (EAS), such as job search services, career development and counselling, and résumé writing assistance. These services, typically of short duration, are available to all unemployed individuals who are legally allowed to work in Canada, regardless of their EI status. Other support measures can include certain community-level Labour Market Partnerships for developing local employment strategies, and targeted research and innovation initiatives that examine how to help people prepare for, return to, or keep employment.

Agreements

• Alberta

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Alberta Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Ministry of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration

  • Canada - Alberta Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on December 6, 1996)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement for Canada - Alberta Labour Market Agreement and Canada- Alberta Agreement on Labour Market Development (Signed on May 22, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Alberta LMDA (Signed on December 19, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Alberta LMDA (Signed on March 28, 2018)

• British Columbia

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction

  • Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on February 20, 2008)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement for Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement and Canada-British Columbia Agreement on Labour Market Development (Signed on April 9, 2009)
  • Amending Agreement No.1 for Annex 5 of the Canada – British Columbia LMDA (Signed on September 1, 2015)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - British Columbia LMDA (Signed on December 15, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - British Columbia LMDA (Signed on March 27, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – British Columbia LMDA (Signed on March 23, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – British Columbia LMDA (Signed on January 14, 2020)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - British Columbia LMDA (Signed on March 15, 2024)

• Manitoba

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Manitoba Labour Market Development Agreement, contact Economic Development and Training

  • Canada - Manitoba Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on April 17, 1997)
  • Canada - Manitoba Labour Market Development Amending Agreement (Signed in 2001)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement for Canada - Manitoba Labour Market Agreement and Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Labour Market Development (Signed on May 8, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Manitoba LMDA (Signed on December 21, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Manitoba LMDA (Signed on March 28, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada–Manitoba LMDA (Signed on November 25, 2019)

• New Brunswick

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – New Brunswick Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour

  • Canada - New Brunswick Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on December 13, 1996)
  • Canada - New Brunswick Labour Market Development Amending Agreement #1 (Signed in December 1998)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement to the Canada - New Brunswick Labour Market Agreement and Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on May 22, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - New Brunswick LMDA (Signed on March 24, 2017)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - New Brunswick LMDA (Signed on February 23, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - New Brunswick LMDA (Signed on March 31, 2018)
  • Agreement No.4 to Amend Annex 6 of the Canada – New Brunswick LMDA (Signed on April 17, 2018)
  • Agreement No.5 to Amend Annex 6 of the Canada – New Brunswick LMDA (Signed on July 9, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – New Brunswick LMDA (Signed on August 14, 2019)

• Newfoundland and Labrador

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Department of Immigration, Population Growth and Skills

  • Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on September 4, 2008)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement to the Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Agreement and Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on June 22, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador LMDA (Signed on March 2, 2017)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador LMDA (Signed on March 28, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador LMDA (Signed on March 25, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Newfoundland and Labrador LMDA (Signed on January 28, 2020)

• Northwest Territories

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Northwest Territories Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Department of Education, Culture and Employment

  • Canada - Northwest Territories Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on February 27, 1998)
  • Canada - Northwest Territories Amending Agreement (Amendment #1 to Annex 1) (Signed on September 30, 1998)
  • Canada - Northwest Territories Labour Market Development Amending Agreement No. 1 (Signed on June 15, 2000)
  • Canada - Northwest Territories Amending Agreement No. 2 (Signed on July 8, 2009)
  • Canada - Northwest Territories Amending Agreement (Amendment #2 to Annex 1) (Signed on November 22, 2011)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Northwest Territories LMDA (Signed on December 21, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Northwest Territories LMDA (Signed on March 28, 2018)

• Nova Scotia

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Nova Scotia Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Labour and Advanced Education

  • Canada - Nova Scotia Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on June 13, 2008)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement for Canada - Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement and Canada-Nova Scotia Agreement on Labour Market Development (Signed on May 1, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Nova Scotia LMDA (Signed on November 4, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Nova Scotia LMDA (Signed on March 27, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Nova Scotia LMDA (Signed on March 26, 2019)

• Nunavut

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Nunavut Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Department of Education

  • Canada - Nunavut Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on May 11, 2000)
  • Letter to amend the Canada – Nunavut LMDA Annex 1 (Signed on April 29, 2004)
  • Canada - Nunavut Amending Agreement (Signed on July 16, 2009)
  • Amending Agreement No.1 for Annex 4 of the Canada-Nunavut LMDA (Signed on November 21, 2014)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Nunavut LMDA (Signed on November 24, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Nunavut LMDA (Signed on August 24, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Nunavut LMDA (Signed March 27, 2019)

• Ontario

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development.

  • Canada - Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on November 23, 2005)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement for Canada-Ontario Labour Market Agreement and Canada - Ontario Agreement on Labour Market Development (Signed on May 22, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Ontario LMDA (Signed on December 15, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Ontario LMDA (Signed on March 29, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Ontario LMDA (Signed on March 28, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Ontario LMDA (Signed on March 4, 2020)

• Prince Edward Island

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Skills PEI

  • Canada - Prince Edward Island Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on September 5, 2008)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement for Canada-Prince Edward Island Labour Market Agreement and Canada - Prince Edward Island Agreement on Labour Market Development (Signed on May 22, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Prince Edward Island LMDA (Signed on December 15, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Prince Edward Island LMDA (Signed on March 27, 2018)
  • Agreement No.2 to Amend Annex 5 of the Canada - Prince Edward Island LMDA (Signed on April 19, 2018)
  • Agreement to amend the Canada - Prince Edward Island LMDA - Seasonal (Signed on March 22, 2019)
  • Agreement to amend the Canada - Prince Edward Island LMDA - Forest (Signed on March 22, 2019)
  • Agreement to amend the Canada - Prince Edward Island LMDA - Steel and Aluminum (Signed on March 22, 2019)
  • Agreement to amend the Canada – Prince Edward Island LMDA (Signed on January 28, 2020)

• Quebec

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Quebec Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity

  • Canada - Quebec Labour Market Development Agreement in Principle (Signed on April 21, 1997)
  • Canada - Quebec Labour Market Development Agreement (Implementation) (Signed on November 28, 1998)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Quebec Labour Market Development Agreement in Principle (Signed on April 30, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Quebec Labour Market Agreement in Principle (Signed on August 25, 2014)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Quebec LMDA in Principle (Signed on December 21, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Quebec LMDA in Principle (Signed on February 23, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Quebec LMDA in Principle (Signed on March 27, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Quebec LMDA in Principle and the Labour Market Implementation Agreement (Signed on July 10, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Quebec LMDA in Principle (Signed on July 10, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Quebec LMDA in Principle (Signed on September 5, 2019)

• Saskatchewan

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Saskatchewan Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training

  • Canada - Saskatchewan Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on February 6, 1998)
  • Canada - Saskatchewan Amending Agreement No. 1 (Signed on March 15, 2001)
  • Omnibus Amending Agreement to the Canada - Saskatchewan Labour Market Agreement and Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on May 22, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Saskatchewan LMDA (Signed on November 23, 2016 )
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Saskatchewan Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on March 28, 2018)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Saskatchewan LMDA (Signed on March 28, 2019)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada – Saskatchewan LMDA (Signed on September 10, 2019)

• Yukon

  For more information on programs and services funded under the Canada – Yukon Labour Market Development Agreement, contact the Department of Economic Development

  • Canada - Yukon Labour Market Development Agreement (Signed on July 8, 2009)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Yukon LMDA (Signed on November 24, 2016)
  • Agreement to Amend the Canada - Yukon LMDA (Signed on March 28, 2018)