March 16, 2015 – Vancouver, British Columbia – Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour for British Columbia, applauded the completion of 45 targeted skills-training programs which helped more than 1,700 British Columbians gain the skills needed to qualify for jobs in their communities. The Ministers made the announcement following their first bilateral meeting today.
These project-based training programs represented an investment of more than $12 million under the Canada–British Columbia Job Fund Agreement (Employer-Sponsored Training stream). The projects, which support B.C.’s regional labour market demands across all sectors, included numerous opportunities for youth, Aboriginal people and First Nation individuals to receive training and work qualification certificates.
Through the Canada Job Fund, the Government of Canada provides $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training. Under the Canada–British Columbia Job Fund Agreement, the province receives a total of $65 million per year—its per capita share of the available funding.
The Canada Job Fund helps ensure training programs give individuals the skills to enter and succeed in the job market. Through the Employer-Sponsored Training stream, funding supports project-based, time-limited, employer-driven training that leads to a job at the end of training. This includes targeted programs offered by post secondary institutions, industry associations and community groups that meet regional labour market needs. Employers also provide either financial or in-kind contributions to support the training.
“Our Government is focused on keeping taxes low for families and investing in training to keep the economy strong. To support these priorities, we must ensure that everyone who wants to put their talent to work has the opportunity to do so. These projects helped individuals gain the skills they needed to find and maintain employment.”
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development
“Training programs like the ones supported through the Canada–British Columbia Job Fund are extremely important to help make sure every British Columbian can find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy. Ensuring the Canada Job Fund offered programs that help unemployed workers looking to upgrade their skills was a key priority when the Fund was being designed, and I’m pleased to see that priority reflected in these outcomes.”
– The Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour for British Columbia
Meagan Murdoch
Office of Minister Poilievre
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The new Canada Job Fund agreements ensure greater employer involvement in training. The Government of Canada provides $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training through the Canada Job Fund, which provides funding through the following three streams: the Canada Job Grant, Employer-Sponsored Training and Employment Services and Supports.
Employer-Sponsored Training is similar to the Canada Job Grant in that employers determine the nature of the training and who is to receive it. However, employers can provide either financial or in-kind contributions to the training. The Employer-Sponsored Training is complemented by the Employment Services and Supports stream, which provides a range of employment supports and services, such as literacy and essential skills, focused on people who are furthest from the labour market with multiple barriers to employment.
Part of the Canada Job Fund, 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 can 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 are required to contribute one-third of these training costs.
