In a renewed effort to show “flexibility” and reach out to the provinces on the Canada Job Grant program, the federal minister responsible, Jason Kenney, has written to the provinces with an olive branch.
The federal government is prepared to make concessions to implement its promised Canada Job Grant program after a show of united opposition from provinces and business leaders, sources say.
A renewed effort to show “flexibility” and reach out to the provinces is underway to rescue the much-criticized measure, with the federal minister responsible for the Conservatives’ showpiece program, Jason Kenney, writing to the provinces with an olive branch.
That could mean allowing provinces to keep more of the skills training money they now receive, reducing the contribution expected from small business employers, or a combination of moves that might bring some or all of the provinces onside.
A big push is on to negotiate with provincial ministers responsible for skills training and labour markets prior to a federal/provincial meeting that a source confirmed would be held in Toronto on Nov. 8.
“We’re exploring flexibility with the program to make it work better for the provinces. There will be a lot of focus and negotiations on these flexibilities in the lead-up to the 8th,” said the source on background.
Chosen excerpts by Job Market Monitor. Read the whole story at
Related Posts
Canada Job Grant / There is no single, magic solution to skills needs across Canada” say the Provinces and Territories
“There is no single, magic solution to skills needs across Canada” writes the Forum of Labour Market Ministers in a position paper on to the Canada Job Grant proposal titled Building Skills Together Continue reading »
Canada Job Grant / Doomed unless changed say premiers
Unless the federal Conservatives make substantial changes to the Canada Job Grant, the jobs training fund is doomed to failure, provincial leaders say. Ottawa has to be open to changing the program because a “one-size-fits-all” approach to helping more people find jobs isn’t going to work, said BC Premier Christy Clark and New Brunswick Premier … Continue reading »
Canada / BC and Ontario talk tactics against Canada Jobs Grant
The provinces are gearing up to battle Ottawa this fall over the federal government’s signature skills-training program, with British Columbia’s Christy Clark and Ontario’s Kathleen Wynne hunkering down to plan strategy for the coming fight. And in one of the sharpest criticisms yet of the Canada Jobs Grant, Ms. Clark said the program would simply … Continue reading »
Canada Job Grant / Television commercial was misleading and a breach of the Code of Advertising Standards
A federal government television commercial touting a not yet existent Canada Job Grant was misleading and a breach of the Canadian Code of Advertising Standards, Canada’s advertising watchdog has ruled Continue reading »
Job Market Monitor 
Discussion
Trackbacks/Pingbacks
Pingback: Canada Job Grant and the Provinces / Only Quebec, Ontario and Saskatchewan have consistently used their entire federal Labour Market Agreement’s funds | Job Market Monitor - November 7, 2013
Pingback: Entente du Marché du Travail / Seuls le Québec, l’Ontario et la Saskatchewans ont utilisé systématiquement la totalité de leur contribution fédérale de l’Accord du marché du travail | Vigie DB - November 7, 2013
Pingback: Entente du Marché du Travail / Seuls le Québec, l’Ontario et la Saskatchewans ont utilisé systématiquement la totalité de leur contribution fédérale de l’Accord du marché du travail | Vigie DB - November 7, 2013
Pingback: Canada Job Grant / No agreement reached on friday | Job Market Monitor - November 11, 2013
Pingback: Canada’s Premiers Meeting / Pensions and Canada Job Grant top of agenda | Job Market Monitor - November 15, 2013