Key agreement signed for skills training and employment programs
April 24, 2014 – Calgary, Alberta – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and the Honourable Manmeet Bhullar, Alberta Minister of Human Services, signed an agreement today to help connect Albertans with available jobs.
The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. It is designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. By requiring employers to put more skin in the game, the Canada Job Grant will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs. The Canada Job Grant will be delivered though the new Canada–Alberta Job Fund (formerly known as a labour market agreement).
More information regarding program eligibility and the application process will be available in the coming months. Once the Canada Job Grant is fully available in Alberta, a website will be launched with application information for employers.
“Our government’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. The Canada Job Grant is part of our commitment to address the paradox of too many Canadians without jobs in an economy of too many jobs without Canadians. With employers’ skin in the game, the Canada Job Grant will lead to a guaranteed job. Helping employers train Canadians for jobs that need to be filled will help their businesses grow and succeed, and that is good news for the Alberta economy.”
- The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development
“Alberta’s strong economy is expected to lead the country in employment growth over the coming years. But to keep its economy growing, those job openings have to be filled. The agreements signed today will not only help create jobs and opportunities for Albertans, they will also help develop the skilled workforce Alberta’s economy needs.”
- The Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, Regional Minister for Northern Alberta and Member of Parliament for Edmonton–Spruce Grove
“Skills training changes lives. The Canada Job Grant will help more people benefit from valuable skills training and allow more employers to develop the skilled workforce they need to keep contributing to our province’s economic success. Connecting Albertans to the skills training they need to fill available jobs is one of the best ways we can address labour shortages and fill skills gaps. I’m pleased we were able to work with our federal partners to ensure the Canada Job Grant will do just that.”
- The Honourable Manmeet Bhullar, Alberta Minister of Human Services
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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Dave Prisco
Chief of Staff, Human Services
780-499-6734
dave.prisco@gov.ab.ca
Kim Misik
Director of Communications, Jobs, Skills, Training and Labour
587-986-4416
kim.misik@gov.ab.ca
Canada–Alberta Job Fund
The current labour market agreements, created in 2007, are being transformed into the new Canada Job Fund 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. Alberta will continue to receive approximately $57 million—its per capita share of the $500 million.
Nationally, the Canada Job Fund will include $200 million of employer-driven training, which may include funding for the Canada Job Grant or other existing employer-driven training programs.
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 for training costs, such as tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in federal contributions. Employers will be required to contribute on average one-third of the total costs of training. Alberta will be developing the Canada Job Grant over the coming months.
The provinces and territories will have full flexibility on the source of funds for the Canada Job Grant. They may be sourced from provincial/territorial allocations under the Canada Job Fund, the Labour Market Development Agreements or provincial/territorial sources.
The Canada Job Grant will be for short-duration training provided by an eligible third-party trainer, such as community colleges, career colleges, trade union centres and private trainers. Training can be provided 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 will be eligible to apply for a Canada Job Grant, once implemented.
The Canada Job Grant will be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. Small businesses will 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:
- 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;
- Canadian Welding Bureau;
- Engineers Canada;
- Progressive Contractors Association;
- Christian Labour Association of Canada;
- Canadian Home Builders’ Association;
- Canadian Shipowners Association;
- Canadian Electricity Association;
- Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating;
- Merit Canada;
- Polytechnics Canada;
- Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada;
- Chemistry Industry Association of Canada; and
- Aerospace Industry Association of Canada.
