Governments of Canada and Nunavut launch the Canada Job Grant to help Nunavummiut get high quality jobs

IQALUIT, April 15, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Member of Parliament for Nunavut, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with Nunavut Minister of Family Services, the Honourable Jeannie Ugyuk, today announced that Nunavut is accepting employer applications for the Canada Job Grant and encouraged employers to apply. The Canada Job Grant initiative is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs.

The Canada Job Grant is designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. By requiring employers to invest in their employees, the Canada Job Grant will result in training that leads to guaranteed jobs.

The Canada Job Grant will provide up to $10,000 in federal contributions, provided that employers also contribute to a third of the total eligible training costs. For details on how to apply for the Canada Job Grant in Nunavut, please visit: http://gov.nu.ca/family-services/information/canada-nunavut-job-grant-cnjg.

Quick Facts

• According to the Conference Board of Canada, Nunavut's real gross domestic product is expected to grow by 6.8 percent in 2015, and 2.3 percent in 2016.
• The mining industry in Nunavut will be one of the most important economic drivers in the years ahead. It is expected that Nunavut's Meliadine mine development project alone has the potential to generate over 1,000 direct jobs per year in the first three years of its construction phase.

Quotes

"Our Government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. The Canada Job Grant is taking skills training choices out of the hands of government and putting them where they belong: in the hands of employers and Canadians who want to work. By having employers directly involved in training decisions, the Canada Job Grant will lead to guaranteed jobs and will help businesses grow and succeed. And that is good news for the Nunavut economy."
– The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development

"The North is an emerging economy and will be a key driver in the Canadian economy in the years ahead. The Canada Job Grant will help workers in Nunavut get the skills they need to fill available jobs. This announcement is great news for all families across Nunavut."
– The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister of the Environment, Minister of the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency and Minister for the Arctic Council

"The Canada–Nunavut Job Grant provides eligible employers in Nunavut with funding to support and expand employees' skills through training opportunities. The Government of Nunavut recognizes education as a key priority to realize our economic potential and hopes this funding leads to increased success for Nunavummiut."
– The Honourable Jeannie Ugyuk, Minister of Family Services, Government of Nunavut     

News Release also available in Inuktitut and Inuinnaqtun at www.gov.nu.ca/

Associated Links

Canada Job Grant
Canada Job Grant (Nunavut)

Backgrounder

Canada–Nunavut Job Fund Agreement

The Labour Market Agreements have been transformed into the new Canada Job Fund agreements to ensure greater employer involvement in training. Nationally, the Government of Canada will continue to provide $500 million annually to the provinces and territories for investments in skills training through the Canada Job Fund, which includes the Canada Job Grant.

Nunavut will receive approximately $1 million—$500,000 for its per capita share of the available funding, plus $500,000 in supplementary funding to recognize the distinct labour market needs of the territories.

The provinces and territories have full flexibility on the source of funds for the Canada Job Grant. They may be sourced from provincial/territorial allocations under the Canada Job Fund, the Labour Market Development Agreements or provincial/territorial sources.

Canada Job Grant

The Canada Job Grant will help Canadians get the training they need for available jobs and put skills training decisions in the hands of employers. It provides up to $15,000 per person for training costs, such as tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in government contributions. Employers are required to contribute one-third of these training costs. By 2017–18, a total of approximately $300 million per year will be invested nationally in the Canada Job Grant.

The Canada Job Grant is for short-duration training provided by eligible third-party trainers, such as community colleges, career colleges, trade union centres and private trainers. Training can be provided in a variety of settings including a classroom, on site at a workplace or online.

All private and not-for-profit businesses with a plan to train Canadians for a new or better job are eligible to apply for a Canada Job Grant.

The Canada Job Grant is flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. Small businesses may benefit from flexible arrangements, such as the potential to count wages as part of the employer contribution. This will help ensure that all businesses, regardless of size, can fully participate in the Canada Job Grant.

The Canada Job Grant ensures that employers participate meaningfully as partners in the skills training system, sharing in the associated costs. This will ensure that training is better aligned with job opportunities, particularly in sectors facing skills mismatches and labour shortages.

The Canada Job Grant is strongly supported by employers and other stakeholders, including:

• Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO;
• National Association of Career Colleges;
• Canadian Federation of Independent Business;
• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters;
• Canadian Construction Association;
• Information Technology Association of Canada;
• Canadian Welding Bureau;
• Engineers Canada;
• Progressive Contractors Association;
• Christian Labour Association of Canada;
• Canadian Home Builders' Association;
• Canadian Shipowners Association;
• Canadian Electricity Association;
• Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating;
• Merit Canada;
• Polytechnics Canada;
• Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada;
• Chemistry Industry Association of Canada; and
• Aerospace Industry Association of Canada.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected], Follow us on Twitter: @Jobs_Emplois ; Jobie Inooya, Executive Assistant to Minister Ugyuk, Nunavut Legislative Assembly, 867-975-5005, [email protected]; Deatra Walsh, Acting Manager, Labour Market Programs, Department of Family Services, Government of Nunavut, 867-975-5675, [email protected]