Government of Canada launches Future Skills Centre call for proposals and Future Skills Council call for applications
GATINEAU, QC, May 24, 2018 /CNW/ - Canada's long-term prosperity depends on its greatest asset: its talented, hard-working people. When Canadians can be confident that they'll have the tools they need to embrace the challenges and opportunities that innovation and new technology bring, we can create the kind of sustained long-term economic growth that works for everyone. That is why the Government of Canada is taking concrete steps to build a highly skilled and resilient workforce for the long term.
Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour announced that the call for proposals for the new Future Skills Centre and the call for applications for the new Future Skills Council are now open.
The Government will invest $225 million over four years, and $75 million per year thereafter, in Future Skills. The Future Skills Centre and Future Skills Council will be tasked with exploring new and innovative approaches to skills development, identifying the skills employers will need now and in the future and sharing information to inform future investments and programming.
Future Skills will help Canadians prepare for, get and keep jobs as innovation and technology continue to place new demands on workers' skills and training. This includes:
- examining major trends that will have an impact on national and regional economies and workers;
- identifying emerging skills that are in demand now and into the future that may impact people's education and training decisions;
- developing, testing and evaluating innovative approaches to help Canadians gain the skills they need to adapt and succeed in the workforce; and
- sharing results and best practices with governments, the private sector, labour, educational and training institutions, not-for-profit organizations, academics and subject matter experts to support broader adoption of innovative approaches across Canada.
The Future Skills Centre will operate at arm's length from government to develop, test and rigorously measure new approaches to skills assessment and development. The call for proposals to host the Centre runs from May 24 to July 4, 2018. The selected organization will be announced following completion of a rigorous evaluation process.
In addition to the Centre, the Future Skills Council will bring together up to 15 representatives from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors across Canada with expertise on emerging skills and workforce trends. The Council will make recommendations to the Minister on national priorities related to skills development and training for Canadians. The call for applications for the Council runs from May 24 to June 20, 2018.
Future Skills is the cornerstone of the Government's plan to build an advanced, resilient, confident workforce that reflects our rapidly evolving world. Work of Future Skills will pave the way for middle class Canadians to adapt, succeed, and thrive at work for years to come.
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"Work is changing, and so are the skills Canadians will need to succeed in the future. Future Skills will bring together the very best from the public, private and not-for-profit sectors to set our workforce up for long-term success."
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
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Associated Links
Future Skills
Future Skills Centre – call for proposals
Future Skills Council – call for applications
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
Media enquiries: Carlene Variyan, Director of Communications, 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]
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