FREDERICTON (GNB) – The provincial and federal governments have signed three labour market agreements to help provide more New Brunswickers with jobs and training opportunities.
"We are growing our province's economy by focusing on people, skills and jobs," said Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Jody Carr. "These agreements will allow us to serve New Brunswickers with flexible, responsive employment programs and services that will meet our province's economic needs and challenges. Today's signings represent a great deal of hard work and collaboration, in which we are proud to have played a leading role."
Today, the governments signed the Canada-New Brunswick Job Fund, which will establish the Canada Job Grant, a new and innovative program designed to help New Brunswickers and Canadians gain the necessary skills to help the province and country meet its unique labour needs and challenges. As part of the agreement, the province will receive about $11 million annually over six years.
"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity,” said federal Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney. “The Canada Job Grant is part of our commitment to address the paradox of too many Canadians without jobs in an economy of too many jobs without Canadians. With employers' skin in the game, the Canada Job Grant will lead to a guaranteed job. Helping employers train Canadians for jobs that need to be filled will help their businesses grow and succeed. And that is good news for the New Brunswick economy.”
"New Brunswick has the potential for a strong economy and employment growth over the coming years,” said federal Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency Rob Moore. “To ensure the province's prosperity, job openings have to be filled. The agreements finalized today will not only help create jobs and opportunities for New Brunswickers, they will also help develop the skilled workforce the provincial economy needs."
Also signed today was the new Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities, which will secure funding to March 31, 2018. Under this agreement, the federal government will provide more than $5.9 million per year to New Brunswick, a contribution that will be matched by the province.
The governments also renewed the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, a cost-shared initiative that helps unemployed older workers in eligible communities re-enter the labour force. This agreement is a three-year cost-shared initiative valued at $2.5 million.
"We are building an inclusive province where all persons have the opportunity to reach their full potential," said Carr. "By working with communities, stakeholders and the federal government we will provide more job and career opportunities for vulnerable workers, the unemployed, persons with a disability and older workers while ensuring employers a greater role in training."
LINKS:
● Canada Job Grant
● Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities
● Targeted Initiative for Older Workers
● New Brunswick’s Labour Force and Skills Development Strategy
● An Employment Action Plan for Persons with a Disability in New Brunswick
24-06-14
