The ACTEW Blog

The Canada-Ontario Labour Market Partnership Agreement (LMPA) was signed in November 2005 along with the LMDA. (Here's what we have to say about the LMDA.)

Unlike the LMDA, the LMPA is a new agreement: only three provinces have signed an LMPA with the federal government. The LMPA is an open-ended agreement that transfers $300 million per year to Ontario, and it is designed to fill in the gaps left by the LMDA.

The LMPA has six priority areas:

• apprenticeships,


• integration of immigrants,


• literacy and essential skills,


• workplace skills development,


• assistance for Aboriginals, and


• assistance to others facing labour market barriers.

The LMPA is good news for marginalized workers in Ontario. Unlike the LMDA, the LMPA money does not come from Employment Insurance (EI) funds. Ontarians who do not qualify for EI and therefore can’t access services funded through the LMDA can potentially be served by LMPA-funded services.

Also different from the LMDA, the LMPA represents a transfer of dollars without associated programs. This is an investment of new dollars into employment and training in the province.

The bad news: the federal government has yet to transfer any money to the province, and we’re not sure if they plan to honour the agreement.

If you know your MP, ask them what the status is on the funding associated with the LMPA. Then let ACTEW know what they tell you.

For more information about the LMPA, take a look at ACTEW’s two-page overview, available in English and French.

The LMPA agreement itself is available on the HRSDC web site: http://www.sdc.gc.ca/en/epb/lmd/lmda/ontario/partnership.shtml

Labels: LMPA