Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia finalize agreements to help Nova Scotians get jobs

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The Honourable Peter Mackay, Regional Minister for Nova Scotia, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and the Honourable Kelly Regan, Nova Scotia Minister of Labour and Advanced Education, announced June 30 that three agreements have been signed by the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia to help connect Canadians with available jobs.

The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. It is designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. By requiring employers to put more skin in the game, the Canada Job Grant will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs. The Canada Job Grant will be delivered though the new Canada-Nova Scotia Job Fund (formerly known as a labour market agreement).

Also signed June 30 was the new Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities (LMAPD). This was signed by Minister Regan on behalf of the Honourable Joanne Bernard, Nova Scotia Minister of Community Services. With increased employer involvement and a stronger focus on demonstrating the best possible results for Canadians, the new agreement will better connect Canadians with disabilities with available jobs. The LMAPDs are the single largest federal government investment in helping Canadians with disabilities get jobs. Under this agreement, the Government of Canada will provide over $8.2 million per year to Nova Scotia, a contribution that will be matched by the province.

Additionally, Canada and Nova Scotia signed the renewal of the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, a federal-provincial/territorial cost-shared initiative that provides unemployed older workers in eligible communities with training to re-enter the workforce. This represents a three-year federal investment of over $2.3 million in Nova Scotia.

Quick Facts

• According to BuildForce Canada, in Nova Scotia, more than 6,600 workers in construction-related trades will retire over the next 10 years, increasing labour market demand.
• The Canada Job Grant will provide employers with up to $10,000 for training costs for an individual worker, including tuition and training materials.
• Approximately 800,000 working-age Canadians with disabilities who are able to work are not currently doing so. Almost half of these individuals have some post-secondary education.
• Since its launch in 2007, the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers has helped nearly 1,200 unemployed older workers in Nova Scotia.