The ACTEW Blog

Jen Liptrot, ACTEW's ED, attended the LMDA Service Delivery Advisory Group meeting on September 6, 2006 and has the following updates to share:

The Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) is taking a slow and steady approach to the planning, which seems likely to result in a better, more inclusive process that builds stakeholder engagement.

MTCU is planning a preliminary series of consultations over the next couple months. Ideally one planning session will happen in each of their 4 regions (Central, Eastern, North and West), facilitated by the new MTCU Regional Directors. Preliminary thinking is that these could be "blended sessions" to include municipal service providers (OW), reps from other provincial ministries, community-based training and employment providers, colleges, employers/organized labour/education, and the literacy sector. The goals of the sessions will include soliciting feedback on future planning process, discussing business continuity, and initiating exchange of program information.

We’ll share information about the consultations as it becomes available.

Labels: LMDA, MTCU_Updates

I'm thrilled to give you the first scoop: ACTEW is partnering with the Education and Employment Centre in Brockville to hold a Women's Summit on November 29 and 30, 2006.

ACTEW will be talking to local employment and training agencies and women's service providers about the LMDA and LMPA and women's long-term sustainable employment. We're also bringing representatives from Service Canada and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) to explain the implementation of these new agreements.

What I'm personally really excited about is that the Women's Summit will be for job-seekers as well as service providers. ACTEW will hear from women directly about their successes and challenges in finding meaningful work. We will share what we hear with policy-makers who looking to create effective training and employment programs.

If you live in or near the Brockville area, please join us! We'll post information here as it becomes available.

If you live elsewhere in the province and are interested in convening a meeting or event for your region and would like to discuss the LMDA and LMPA, let me know.

Hope to see you in November,
Deanna

Labels: ACTEW_Activities, Meetings_and_Events

A Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) is a contract that the federal government signs with individual provinces and territories. It assigns responsibility for the design and delivery of programs that train and help people find employment.

LMDA agreements were created in an effort to

• reduce duplication between federal and provincial employment services,


• improve client services, and


• meet the needs of local labour markets.

Ontario signed an LMDA in November of 2005, and was the last province to do so. The Canada-Ontario LMDA transfers responsibility for the design and delivery of programs and services to the Government of Ontario, beginning January 1, 2007.

A couple important things to know about the LMDA:

• The Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities is the provincial Ministry responsible for integrating these new programs and services.
  
  
• The total amount of funding that will be transferred to Ontario through the LMDA each fiscal year is approximately $525 million.
  
  
• The LMDA is a transfer of already existing programs and services to be integrated into Ontario’s present employment and training services programs
  
  
• The money comes from Canada’s Employment Insurance fund, which places restrictions on who can access these employment programs and services.

And that’s a very brief introduction to a very complicated policy shift happening here in Ontario.

Still confused? Post a question in the comments of this blog and we’ll be happy to investigate for you.

And please look at ACTEW’s two-page overview of the LMDA, available in English and French.

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

Labels: LMDA

ACTEW is focusing on two recently signed provincial/federal agreements:

• the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA), and
  
  
• the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Partnership Agreement (LMPA).

These agreements move the responsibility for most employment and training services from the federal government into the hands of the provincial government. Future blog entries will look at each agreement in greater detail.

These policies are going to significantly affect employment services and training in Ontario.

We think this change is an opportunity. As a provincial network, we can be pro-active. Together, we can put these policies to work for working women, and for all Ontarians.

So visit this blog...

• for the latest developments of the LMDA and LMPA implementation
  
  
• for opportunities to participate in policy dialogue, both online and in-person
  
  
• to participate in ACTEW’s research on the impacts of policy on training and employment service providers and their clients
  
  
• to get inspired by profiles of innovative community work that supports and encourages women’s economic self-sufficiency
  
  
• for comprehensive facts about women and employment, including newcomer women, sole-support parents, women with disabilities, and more
  
  
• to find resources and research about women’s employment and training needs

We look forward to strengthening our network with you!

Deanna

Labels: ACTEW_Activities, LMDA

...A Commitment to Training and Employment for Women. We're a provincial non-profit network of supporters, trainers, agencies, and organizations delivering employment and training services to women.

For information about our history and other projects, visit our web site. Subscribe to our e-bulletin for monthly updates on employment and training for women. A monthly policy e-bulletin is in the works.

This blog, and its associated web site, are tools of ACTEW's Putting Women in the Picture project. The goal of this project is to ensure that policy changes lead to positive changes for women's employment and training.

Deanna

Labels: ACTEW_Activities

This is the place to learn about the impacts of provincial and federal government policies on women’s training and employment in Ontario.

We'll monitor and analyze government policy developments. We'll gather feedback from workers, managers, and clients at community-based employment and training centres across the province. We'll also keep tabs on leading research.

Our ultimate goal is to support and improve Ontario women’s economic self-sufficiency. We want to make sure employment and training policy decisions made in this province are helping women contribute meaningfully to their families, their local economies, and their country.

Participate in this policy dialogue. Please post comments and engage in the discussion. Let us know where you disagree, where you have more information, where you’d like us to focus our efforts next. And be sure to come back soon!

Deanna Yerichuk
Project Manager, ACTEW

Labels: ACTEW_Activities