Minister Leitch announces new program to help create jobs and opportunities for Canadians

GATINEAU, QC, July 17, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, today introduced the Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity program.

This new grants and contributions program will provide funding for projects that develop solutions to improve workplace representation of women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities in federally regulated organizations. Up to $500,000 per year in total funding will be distributed among approved projects.  As a condition of approval, recipients will agree to make a financial or in-kind contribution to their project.

The deadline for applications is Friday, August 29, 2014.

Quick Facts

• This new program is just one of the ways the Government of Canada is working to create jobs and opportunities for all Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
• Canada's Economic Action Plan has continuously introduced measures to help Canadians develop the skills and experience they need to succeed in the workforce.
• The Government of Canada is investing in young Canadians by dedicating $40 million towards supporting up to 3,000 full-time internships for post-secondary graduates in high-demand fields. In addition, new measures for apprentices, including the Canada Apprentice Loan, provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year.
• The Government of Canada will provide $222 million annually over the next four years, matched by the provinces and territories, through a new generation of Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities.
• Since 2007 the Government of Canada has invested more than $54 million to promote women's economic security and prosperity. This includes funding of over $12 million for projects that support women in non-traditional occupations, and more than $9 million in support of women entrepreneurs.

Quote

"In order to create jobs, economic growth and prosperity, we need to ensure that all qualified Canadians are connected with available jobs. The new Workplace Opportunities program enables us to form effective partnerships to identify and break down barriers to the labour market so all Canadians in federally regulated workplaces will have the opportunity to get jobs and advance their careers."
- The Honourable Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, Minister of Labour and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

Associated Links

Workplace Opportunities Funding: Apply Now
Labour Program

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Backgrounder

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The Employment Equity Act (EEA) aims to achieve equality in the workplace so that no one is denied opportunities for reasons unrelated to ability and to address workplace disadvantages faced by the four designated groups: women, Aboriginal peoples, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities.

The Labour Program ensures that federally regulated private-sector employers and Crown corporations report annually on the representation of these designated groups in their workplaces and on the steps they have taken to achieve full representation through the Legislated Employment Equity Program. Employment equity must be included in the employment plans and practices of all federally regulated businesses with 100 or more employees.

There have been varying degrees of progress in improving the representation of the designated groups toward achieving equity. However, under-representation persists in a number of occupational groups and industries.

Workplace Opportunities: Removing Barriers to Equity is a new grants and contributions program designed to support employers subject to the EEA in their efforts to improve designated group representation in areas of low representation through partnerships and industry-tailored strategies.

The Call for Concepts will be open to a wide range of stakeholders whose submissions will be evaluated and shortlisted by early fall 2014. Those shortlisted organizations will be asked to submit detailed project proposals that will be considered for multi-year agreements (up to 3 years) or funding for yearly projects, beginning in fiscal year 2015-2016.  The deadline for applications is Friday, August 29, 2014.

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada

For further information:

Andrew McGrath
Press Secretary
Office of the Hon. Dr. K. Kellie Leitch, P.C., O.Ont., M.P.
Minister of Labour and Minister of Status of Women
819-953-5646
[e-mail]

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
[e-mail]

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