May 1, 2015– Saskatoon, Saskatchewan– Employment and Social Development Canada
The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Honourable Kevin Chief, Manitoba Minister of Jobs and the Economy, today announced that over 1,600 workers in Manitoba are receiving training thanks to funding provided through the Canada Job Grant. So far, 47 employers have been approved for funding under the Canada Job Grant in Manitoba.
The announcement took place at Zenith Paving Ltd., a company that specializes in road and highway construction. The company is a successful Manitoba recipient of funding that helped 116 employees receive training in health and safety, administration and leadership. This training is creating better jobs, allowing the company to become more diverse and competitive, improving employee skills and helping with succession plans for those retiring. Support through this program is also helping the company become an employer of choice in the Westman area.
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 invest in training costs, the Canada Job Grant will result in skills training that leads to guaranteed jobs.
Under the Canada Job Grant in Manitoba, the federal government provides two-thirds of total eligible training costs, up to $10,000, for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and student fees, while the Manitoba government delivers the program. Employers are required to contribute the remaining one-third of these training costs, while small businesses have additional flexibility to make in-kind contributions toward their share of the cost through wages paid to the training participant.
Manitoba, the first province to deliver the Canada Job Grant, works closely with employers to ensure that training meets Manitoba’s labour market needs. Through collaboration with industry, educational institutions and community stakeholders, provincial government delivers a variety of programs to support a skilled and sustainable workforce.
Today’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. To help hard-working families, the Government is also enhancing the Universal Child Care Benefit, introducing the Family Tax Cut and making improvements to the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
“The Canada Job Grant is taking skills training choices out of the hands of government and putting them where they belong: in the hands of employers and Canadians who want to work. By having employers directly involved in training decisions, the Canada Job Grant will lead to guaranteed jobs and will help businesses grow and succeed. And that is good news for the Canadian economy.”
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development
“A skilled workforce is fundamental to a strong economy. By helping employers invest in their workers, we are providing new and better job opportunities for people in Westman. Zenith Paving is a great example of how the Canada Job Grant is helping local workers get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs.”
– Larry Maguire, Member of Parliament for Brandon–Souris
“Manitoba businesses are always looking for ways to give back to their hometowns, and we want to help. Supporting them to train local people for good, skilled jobs means they will have bigger advantages contributing to Canada’s fastest growing economy. The Canada Job Grant is a good addition to our programs that help employers meet their workforce needs.”
– The Honourable Kevin Chief, Manitoba Minister of Jobs and the Economy
“This investment has helped my employees build new skills, and has improved future prospects for this business. By investing in skill-building, the Canada Job Grant invests in all Canadians.”
– David Cumming, Owner and General Manager of Zenith Paving
Aaron Bell
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Development
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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Jodee Mason
Press Secretary
204-945-1494
Gabrielle Giroday
Communications Services Manitoba
204-945-2824
The Labour Market Agreements have been transformed into the new Canada Job Fund agreements 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, which includes the Canada Job Grant.
Manitoba will continue to receive over $17 million—its per capita share of the $500 million.
The provinces and territories have flexibility on the source of funds for the Canada Job Grant. They may be sourced from their allocations under the Canada Job Fund, the Labour Market Development Agreements or their own provincial or territorial sources.
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 can 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. The program is delivered by the Government of Manitoba. Employers are required to contribute one-third of these training costs. By 2017–18, a total of approximately $300 million per year will be invested nationally in the Canada Job Grant.
The Canada Job Grant is for short-duration training provided by eligible third-party trainers, such as community colleges, career colleges, trade union centres and private trainers. Training can be provided in a variety of settings, including 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 are eligible to apply for a Canada Job Grant.
The Canada Job Grant is flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. Small businesses may 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:
• 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 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; and
• Aerospace Industries Association of Canada.
