Government of Canada announces $2.8 million for Trucking Human Resources Canada to help workers and employers in a changing economy
GATINEAU, QC, June 14, 2018 /CNW/ - E-commerce, modernized supply chains and innovative logistics processes are creating new opportunities in the trucking and logistics industry. We know it takes knowledge and information for workers, employers and post-secondary education institutions to take advantage of these opportunities and grow our economy.
That is why the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, has announced funding of $2.8 million to Trucking HR Canada through the Government of Canada's Sectoral Initiatives Program (SIP), to develop the sectoral labour market information needed to shape the industry for the future.
This project supports the SIP's goal to address current and future skills shortages by supporting the development and distribution of sector-specific labour market information. The project will develop bilingual innovative tools to help employers to recruit and retain employees from untapped labour pools, such as women, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, visible minorities, veterans/transitioning military personnel and youth.
For this project, Trucking HR Canada has partnered with the Canadian Trucking Alliance, which represents the majority of for-hire carriers across Canada. The seven provincial trucking associations (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces) have also confirmed their support and commitment to the project. Engagement and consultation activities will be held across the country to ensure a national representation of the industry.
Sectoral labour market information reports will be released and made available online throughout the course of the project, which ends in summer 2021.
Quick Facts
- Trucks move 90 percent of all consumer products and food items within Canada, and the industry requires the skills of over 500,000 employees in a wide range of occupations.
- There has not been any industry-validated sectoral labour market information in this sector since 2011.
- This project comes following a call for proposals in fall 2017 for the SIP, which will allocate $55 million over 3 years.
Quotes
"Economies are changing around the world, and that presents opportunities that we need to seize in Canada. Workers, employers and post-secondary education institutions need knowledge and information in order to shape the future of the trucking and logistics industry, and this project by Trucking HR Canada will help them do just that."
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
"The trucking and logistics industry is rapidly changing. A strong economic outlook, low unemployment rates, workforce shortages and technological change are all impacting fleet operations across the country. This project will enable us to better quantify labour needs to inform the development of practical tools and resources that will support employers, as well as better connect job seekers to the numerous career opportunities the industry offers."
– Angela Splinter, CEO, Trucking Human Resources Canada
Associated Links
Funding: Sectoral Initiatives Program
Sectoral Initiatives Program
Trucking HR
Explore careers by occupation
Backgrounder
Changing demands of the workplace
Canada is home to a well-educated and highly skilled workforce, but rapid technological change and globalization are accelerating the need to learn and develop new skills. As the demands of the workplace change, so too must the skills that workers bring to their jobs. The Government of Canada is taking action to ensure that workers, employers and post-secondary education institutions have the information necessary to address the current and upcoming challenges of rapidly evolving work environments.
Sectoral Initiatives Program
The Sectoral Initiatives Program (SIP) is a grants-and-contributions program that helps address current and future skills shortages by supporting the development and distribution of sector-specific labour market information, national occupational standards and skills certification and accreditation systems.
The SIP will:
- develop sectoral labour market information that is national in scope or has a national significance and leads to improved understanding of sectoral labour markets;
- develop national occupational standards that are validated by industry; and
- develop certification and accreditation programs that are industry-driven and validated by industry at the national level.
The call for proposals for the SIP was launched in fall 2017. The goal was to fund projects that will give workers, employers and post-secondary education institutions access to sectoral labour market information that will address the changing skills needs in many industries.
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
For media enquiries, please contact: Véronique Simard, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, [email protected], 819-654-5611; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
Share this article