February 14, 2014 – St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – Employment and Social Development Canada
In a keynote speech today at the Newfoundland & Labrador Employers’ Council’s annual Employer of Distinction Awards luncheon, the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, congratulated award winners on their success, highlighted the tremendous opportunities facing Newfoundland and Labrador and outlined how Economic Action Plan 2014 will help the province’s economy continue to grow and create jobs.
The Newfoundland and Labrador economy has become a powerhouse in Canada, leading the country in economic growth last year and being near the top of employment gains in Canada since the depths of the global recession. By returning the budget to balance next year, the Government of Canada is strengthening Canada as a strong and stable fiscal climate that encourages investment, economic growth and job creation.
Economic Action Plan 2014 includes a number of initiatives to ensure workers in Newfoundland and Labrador have the skills needed to take advantage of these opportunities. The creation of the Canada Apprentice Loan will provide apprentices registered in their first Red Seal trade with access to interest-free loans of up to $4,000 per period of technical training. The new Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training pilot project will explore ways to allow apprentices to continue working while fulfilling the technical training requirements of their programs. Additionally, Economic Action Plan 2014 reaffirms the Government of Canada’s commitment to create the Canada Job Grant, which will result in employer-driven training that leads to a guaranteed job.
Alexandra Fortier
Office of the Minister
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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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 will provide up to $15,000 per person, which is cost-shared by employers. The Grant will be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. Businesses with a plan to train Canadians for an existing job or a better job will be eligible to apply for a Canada Job Grant once implemented in 2014.
The Canada Job Grant is strongly supported by employers and other stakeholders including:
- The 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
- 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
- Aerospace Industries Association of Canada
Economic Action Plan 2014
To help registered apprentices with the cost of their training and encourage more Canadians to consider a career in the skilled trades, the Canada Apprentice Loan will offer interest-free loans of up to $4,000 per period of technical training and will defer interest charges and loan repayment until the recipients complete or cancel their study program. It is estimated that at least 26 000 apprentices per year will apply for over $100 million in loans.
The Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training pilot project will help reduce non-financial barriers to completing training and obtaining certification by using new learning tools such as in-class simulators, e-learning modules, remote learning sites and video conferencing. This will help apprentices continue working and earning while fulfilling the technical training requirements of their study program. This project could potentially support up to 12 multi-year projects through reallocations of $13 million over four years starting in 2014–2015.
The Government will ensure increased awareness of existing financial supports available through Employment Insurance (EI) so apprentices can start to receive benefits more quickly while on technical training. Through EI’s Supplemental Unemployment Benefit plan, employers can also invest more in apprenticeship training by choosing to top up an apprentice’s benefits by up to 95 percent of his or her normal wage.
