Training a Highly Skilled Canadian Workforce

 

  • Our Government’s top priority is creating jobs and economic growth.

 

  • While Canada has one of the best job records in the G7, too many Canadians are still looking for work or are underemployed. An increasing number of jobs in Canada are going unfilled due to a lack of people with the matching skills.

 

  • Our Government will continue to implement measures that create jobs and fill the demand for skills development and foster healthy and dynamic workplaces.

 

  • Economic Action Plan 2015 expands on our Government’s strong record by:

 

  • Extending the Current Employment Insurance (EI) Working While on Claim Pilot Project to 2016

 

  • Enhancing Labour Market Information for Canadians, including the launch of a new one-stop national labour market information portal. This mitigates labour shortages and efficiently matches Canadian workers with jobs.

 

  • Encouraging Journeypersons to Start or Expand Their Own Businesses by Promoting Blue Seal Certification which will increase the number of apprenticeship positions and promote entrepreneurship for tradespeople.

 

  • Removing Financial Barriers to Foreign Credential Recognition by making the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Pilot Project permanent.

 

  • Investing in Aboriginal Labour Market Programming in order to foster a strong and diverse workforce, with Aboriginal Canadians in high-demand sectors of the economy.

 

  • Reforming the Skills Training System by aligning the curricula of Post-secondary education institutions with the needs of employers through an investment of $65 million over 4 years.

 

  • Strengthening Canada Labour Code Protections for all employees and interns under federal jurisdiction.

 

  • Protecting the Health and Safety of Workers by providing $1.6 million over two years to increase compliance with the health and safety provisions of the Canada Labour Code.

 

  • These measures build on our Government’s strong record of skills training and job creation thus far, which has included:

 

  • Implementing the Canada Job Grant, by connecting Canadians looking for skills training and a job with employers looking for skilled workers.

 

  • Creating the Canada Apprenticeship Loan, by providing apprentices registered in Red Seal Trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year.

 

  • Supporting Canadians with Disabilities Looking to Work, by making key investments in the Ready, Willing & Able initiative and by creating vocational training programs for persons with Autism Spectrum Disorders.

 

  • Strengthening the Apprenticeship System, by introducing the Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training pilot project to develop new approaches to expand training for apprentices.

 

  • Ensuring that Canadians are First in Line for Available Jobs, by launching an enhanced Job Matching Service to match job seekers and employers on the basis of skills, knowledge and experience.

 

  • Making significant investments in the Labour Market Development Agreements, the Labour Market Agreements, and the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities.

 

  • Our Government also has a strong record of support for apprentices and the employers that hire them, through:

 

  • The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant.

 

  • The Apprenticeship Completion Grant.

 

  • The Tradesperson’s Tools Deduction.

 

  • The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.

 

  • The Canada Apprentice Loan which provides apprentices in Red Seal trades with access to over $100M in interest-free loans/year

 

  • The new Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training expands apprenticeship training – $13M over 4 years

 

  • Announcing the harmonization of six new trades (carpenters, welders, metal fabricators, steamfitters-pipefitters, plumbers, and industrial electricians) in the Atlantic Provinces to ensure access to consistent training, certification and standards, and increased job opportunities.

 

  • Extending the fees eligible for the Tuition Tax Credit to include those from examinations required to be certified as a tradesperson in Canada.

 

  • The use of apprentices in federal construction and maintenance contracts.

 

  • Encouraging the provinces, territories and municipalities to support the use of apprentices in infrastructure projects receiving federal funding.