October 9, 2014 – Ottawa, Ontario – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment and Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency, on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Honourable Jackson Lafferty, Northwest Territories Deputy Premier and Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, today announced that the Government of the Northwest Territories is now accepting employer applications for the Canada Job Grant and are encouraging employers to apply.
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. As employers are also required to contribute to the costs of training, the Canada Job Grant will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs.
The Canada Job Grant 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. For details on how to apply for the Canada Job Grant, please visit www.ece.gov.nt.ca.
Alexandra Fortier
Office of Minister Kenney
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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Jacqueline McKinnon
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Government of the Northwest Territories
867-920-6222
jacqueline_mckinnon@gov.nt.ca
Canada–Northwest Territories Job Fund
The Labour Market Agreements, created in 2007, are being transformed into the new Canada Job Fund to ensure greater employer involvement in training. Through the Canada Job Fund, the Government of Canada will transfer approximately $1.1 million to the Government of the Northwest Territories. This includes the Northwest Territories’ per capita share of the Canada Job Fund and $500,000 in supplementary funding to recognize the distinct labour market needs of the territory.
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 government contributions. Employers will be required to contribute one-third of the total costs of training.
The Government of Canada will provide over $650,000 annually to Northwest Territories for the Canada Job Grant once it is fully implemented. The Canada Job Grant will be delivered by the Northwest Territories.
By 2017–18, a total of approximately $300 million per year will be invested nationally in the Canada Job Grant.
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.
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.
