Monday, February 25, 2008
New Canada-Ontario Agreement on Training and Skills Development
On Friday (Feb 22, 2008), the governments of Canada and Ontario announced "a new agreement to help Ontario workers improve their skills and get better jobs."
Under the new agreement, the Government of Canada will invest nearly $1.2 billion in Ontario's labour market over the next six years. These funds will help individuals and workers who are not eligible for training under the Employment Insurance (EI) program to improve their skills. The funding will also help individuals too often excluded from the labour force, including Aboriginal people, immigrants, persons with disabilities, as well as those workers who lack literacy and essential skills, get the training they need to obtain meaningful and sustainable employment.
Note that this agreement replaces the previously signed 2005 Labour Market Partnership Agreement (LMPA), which was to contribute $300 million/year ongoing to Ontario's labour market development strategies. The new agreement is less money and signed for a finite amount of time (6 years). The money will focus on a few priority areas, including: technical skills training, labour market integration of immigrants, foundation skills and supports, and labour market supports for persons with disabilities.
The agreement comes into effect April 1, 2008, beginning with an investment of about $194 million in 2008-2009. Read full press release and backgrounder on the Government of Canada web site.
Under the new agreement, the Government of Canada will invest nearly $1.2 billion in Ontario's labour market over the next six years. These funds will help individuals and workers who are not eligible for training under the Employment Insurance (EI) program to improve their skills. The funding will also help individuals too often excluded from the labour force, including Aboriginal people, immigrants, persons with disabilities, as well as those workers who lack literacy and essential skills, get the training they need to obtain meaningful and sustainable employment.
Note that this agreement replaces the previously signed 2005 Labour Market Partnership Agreement (LMPA), which was to contribute $300 million/year ongoing to Ontario's labour market development strategies. The new agreement is less money and signed for a finite amount of time (6 years). The money will focus on a few priority areas, including: technical skills training, labour market integration of immigrants, foundation skills and supports, and labour market supports for persons with disabilities.
The agreement comes into effect April 1, 2008, beginning with an investment of about $194 million in 2008-2009. Read full press release and backgrounder on the Government of Canada web site.
Labels: LMDA, LMPA, MTCU_Updates
