Canadian HR Reporter Weekly

May 16, 2018 Published weekly by Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. CUSTOMER SERVICE Tel: (416) 609-3800 (Toronto) (800) 387-5164 (outside Toronto) Fax: (416) 298-5106 customersupport.legaltaxcanada@tr.com www.thomsonreuters.ca One Corporate Plaza 2075 Kennedy Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M1T 3V4 Director, Media Solutions, Canada: Karen Lorimer Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Todd Humber todd.humber@thomsonreuters.com (416) 298-5196 Editor/Supervisor: Sarah Dobson sarah.dobson@thomsonreuters.com (416) 649-7896 News Editor: Marcel Vander Wier marcel.vanderwier@thomsonreuters.com (416) 649-7837 Sales Manager: Paul Burton paul.burton@thomsonreuters.com (416) 649-9928 Circulation Co-ordinator: Keith Fulford keith.fulford@thomsonreuters.com (416) 649-9585 ©2018 Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher (Thomson Reuters, Media Solutions, Canada). Ontario given skills training boost BY MARCEL VANDER WIER ousands of Ontario workers are slated to benefit from a federal funding increase in the area of skills training. e federal government signed agree- ments with the province expected to provide aid for 180,000 more workers over six years. Much of the supported programming is deliv- ered through the Employment Ontario network, which aided about one million people — including 62,300 employers last year. By 2023, the federal government is expected to invest nearly $20 billion of funding promised in the 2018 budget into federal-provincial agreements. Ontario's funding — provided through the new Workforce Development Agreement (WDA) and Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) — marks a total increase of $800 million from the previous agreements. e agreements are meant to increase the jobs and skills training available — including training programs, work placements, em- ployer-sponsored training, job search assistance, and career counselling. Funding levels had not increased since labour market agreements first began to be negotiated by the federal government in 1996, said Tanya Blazina, spokesperson for the Ministry of Advanced Educa- tion and Skills Development. Change sparks action Rapid developments in technology and global com- petition have caused an upheaval in the global la- bour market, leaving many workers in need of an opportunity to reskill. "Ontario's economy is changing," said Mitzie Hunter, minister of advanced education and skills development. "New technologies, globalization and shifting demographics mean that the available jobs — and the types of skills needed to succeed in those roles — are different. ese agreements mean we can provide programs and services that directly con- nect people with opportunities to get those skills." e pacts are "good news for the Ontario labour market," according to Margaret Eaton, executive di- rector of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employ- ment Council (TRIEC). "Even though Canada has a well-educated and highly skilled workforce, the truth is there are still skills shortages in the labour market," she said. "(is) agreement to invest in jobs and skills training, work placements and employer-spon- sored training will help fill this gap." e government's proactive response to market changes is also encouraging, said Eaton. "Giving people — especially underrepresented groups such as people with disabilities and immi- grants — the opportunity to gain the training to succeed in future roles will pay dividends down the road." Role of employers Employers have a major role to play in empowering employees to contribute to their fullest potential, said Eaton. "Under the new agreements, the stage is set for employers to invest more in training for their work- ers, which will allow them to retain and attract the best investments organizations can make for their workforce," she said, citing employer-sponsored training and counselling as examples. And employers are a key partner in ensuring On- tario has the skilled workforce it needs to succeed in a changing economy, said Blazina. "Ontario's skills development programs are avail- able to assist both individuals and employers." For example, through the Canada-Ontario Job Grant, the government provides direct financial support to individual employers or groups seeking to purchase training for employees, she said. Other funded initiatives include making accu- rate, accessible labour market information available to aid employers with workforce planning, as well as the development of strategies identifying sector or regional workforce needs, followed by develop- ing training solutions to meet the needs of employ- ers, employees and jobseekers, said Blazina. Range of options rough the agreements, the province intends to fund a wide range of employment and training pro- gramming, she said. Included in the mix will be apprenticeship in- school training, essential skills training, retraining for high-demand occupations, programming for persons with disabilities, as well as a framework to help employers upskill their workforce, said Blazina. e WDA will provide funding for adult educa- tion classes, skills training for people on social as- sistance, and the Youth Job Connection program. e new agreement consolidates previous funding from the Canada Job Fund and Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities. LMDA funding will benefit employers and em- ployees by helping jobseekers find work, matching employers with potential recruits, providing train- ing or education for unemployed workers, and aid- ing employers with training costs. e promised money will also fund innovative approaches to workforce development, through initiatives like experiential learning opportunities for post-secondary students or recent graduates, she said. e two governments will measure how the pro- gramming increases employees' earnings, provides long-lasting employment, and its overall effective- ness in breaking down barriers for underrepresent- ed sectors such as Indigenous people, workers with disabilities, and women.

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