July 31, 2015 Coleman, Prince Edward Island Employment and Social Development Canada
Investment through the Canada Job Grant will help train almost 200 workers in Prince Edward Island for in‑demand jobs, the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island announced today. To date, 29 employers have been approved for funding to train new or current employees in areas that include welding, manufacturing and occupational health and safety.
One of the recipients is Trout River Industries, a privately held Canadian company that specializes in live-bottom trailers that allow for quick unloading of cargoes such as potatoes, grain or gravel. Trout River Industries received over $4,400 through the Canada Job Grant to provide welding training to 10 employees with limited welding experience. The training ranged from welding safety to techniques for producing quality welds. The company is investing over $2,200 in the training, for a total of approximately $6,700.
The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. By requiring employers to invest in training costs, the Canada Job Grant will result in skills training that will lead to jobs.
Under the Canada Job Grant in Prince Edward Island, the Government of Canada provides two-thirds of the total eligible training costs, up to $10,000, for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and student fees. Employers are required to contribute the remaining one-third of these training costs. Small businesses have additional flexibility to make an in-kind contribution towards their share of the cost through wages paid to the training participant.
Today’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. The Government has also increased the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB). All families with children will benefit from the new Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan, which includes the Family Tax Cut, the increased UCCB, the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
The Government of Prince Edward Island’s new department of Workforce and Advanced Learning is focused on providing support to employers in fulfilling labour force requirements while assisting Islanders with gaining long-term sustainable employment.
“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. Trout River Industries, and other employers like them, are great examples of how the Canada Job Grant is helping local workers get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs.”
– The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Member of Parliament for Egmont
“The Government of Prince Edward Island is committed to working in partnership with employers and trainers to build a skilled workforce while growing the Island's economy. The support provided to employers such as Trout River Industries through the Canada–Prince Edward Island Job Grant encourages investment in skills training for rural and urban Island companies allowing them to remain competitive not only locally, but also globally. We are looking forward to continuing to work with employers and trainers to build on the success of the Canada–Prince Edward Island Job Grant.”
– The Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning
“The Canada Job Grant funding allowed us at Trout River Industries to partner up with Holland College in Alberton and modify a welding course to fit the needs of our employees and enhance their skills. Having the opportunity to enhance our employees’ skills enables us to work together to become more competitive at a global level in the manufacturing industry. We feel it is very important that our employees have the most up-to-date training and safety knowledge possible. Projects like this help us to stay current with trade skills and educate our employees to better themselves.”
– Tracey Wadman, Human Resources Manager, Trout River Industries
“In 2013–14, Amalgamated Dairies Limited invested close to $1.5 million in new equipment on our cheese packaging lines. New jobs created by this investment require specific skills and training. The Canada Job Grant provided assistance towards the cost of that training, improving both the skill level of our workforce and the integration of new technology into our production line.”
– Chad Mann, Business Development Manager, Amalgamated Dairies Limited
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter
Ron Ryder
Senior Communication Officer
Workforce and Advanced Learning
902-620-3688
rrryder@gov.pe.ca
Labour Market Agreements were transformed into the new Canada Job Fund agreements on April 1, 2014 to ensure greater employer involvement in training. Nationally, the Government of Canada continues 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.
Prince Edward Island is continuing to receive over $2 million per year for six years (2014–20), 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/territorial sources.
The Canada Job Grant is helping Canadians get the training they need for available jobs and putting 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 government contributions. 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.
