Governments of Canada and British Columbia sign job training deal

Memorandum of Understanding will help finalize deal to better align training to job opportunities in British Columbia

Employment Minister Pierre Poilievre (Facebook photo)

Nanaimo, BC — The Governments of Canada and British Columbia today announced that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that paves the way towards retooling an existing federal-provincial job training deal which will better-align training with jobs. The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and the Honourable Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation (British Columbia), today signed an MOU to direct officials to finalize the deal. This is the second job training deal to be signed between the federal government and provinces.

The Government of Canada transfers over $2 billion annually to the provinces and territories through the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) to provide skills training to active and former Employment Insurance clients and employment services to people who are unemployed.

Under the retooled deal, training will be better aligned with job opportunities to help the unemployed find available jobs sooner. Employers will have the opportunity for greater input on training to meet their needs, and an amended accountability framework will help ensure EI premium-payers are getting maximum value for premiums paid. In B.C., the majority of the funding will support employment programs and supports delivered through 84 WorkBC Employment Service Centres across the province.

The signing took place at VMAC Global Technology Inc., a manufacturer of vehicle-mounted mobile air compressor solutions used for service trucks, public works, utilities, highway/heavy construction, oil and mining and a recent recipient of funding under the Canada Job Grant. Minister Poilievre and the Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour (British Columbia) took the opportunity to announce that approximately 7,360 workers in British Columbia are receiving training through the Canada Job Grant (CJG). To date, over 1,400 employers have been approved for funding to train employees in British Columbia. The CJG is providing 23 VMAC Global employees with training in sales, manufacturing, leadership development and supply chain technology.

Quick Facts
– The Government of Canada transfers over $2 billion annually to the provinces and territories through the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs) to provide skills training to active and former EI clients and employment services to all unemployed Canadians.
– The Government of Canada is transforming Canada’s skills training system by encouraging greater employer participation in skills training decisions and ensuring that training is better aligned with job opportunities.

– The B.C. Government invests approximately $331 million each year on employment programs.
– WorkBC Employment Service Centres have provided employment services to more than 195,000 people in B.C. since they were launched in 2012.
– As the single largest labour market transfer to provinces and territories, these job training deals help over 650,000 Canadians annually.
– $279.9 million is allocated toward the Canada-British Columbia LMDA in 2015-16.
– By 2017–18, over $39 million per year will be available for the Canada Job Grant in British Columbia.

Quotes
“The new job training deal with B.C. will result in greater employer participation to ensure that Canadians are equipped with the skills employers need now and in the future.”
The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

“Through the B.C. Skills for Jobs Blueprint, our government has realigned education and training to meet labour market demands. This MOU is the first step to a renewed agreement that will offer more flexibility to align federal funding with our provinces labour market needs and give more B.C. residents opportunities to train today for tomorrow’s in-demand occupations.”
The Honourable Michelle Stilwell, Minister of Social Development and Social Innovation (British Columbia)

“B.C. is reaching a tipping point with fewer young people entering the workforce than older workers leaving it. That is why we are taking steps now to meet the needs of our rapidly changing labour market. The re-negotiated Labour Market Development Agreement as well as funding provided under the Canada-B.C. Job Grant will better align training to job opportunities and ensure that British Columbians have the skills they need to find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy.”
The Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour (British Columbia)

“VMAC is very aware of the importance of investing in the training and education of our team members and their skill sets in order to grow our position within the manufacturing industry. The Canada Job Grant has provided us with the opportunity to continually invest in our employees, resulting in a highly skilled and knowledgeable team while also giving us a competitive advantage within a global capacity.”
Jim Hogan, P.Eng President, VMAC Global Technology Inc.