News Release

FREDERICTON (GNB) – Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour Minister Donald Arseneault and his fellow federal, provincial and territorial ministers reinforced their commitment to collaborate on key opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian workforce. They also agreed to work together to conduct broad-based consultations on the annual $3-billion investment in labour market transfer agreements to ensure they are responsive to the needs of Canadians.

The decision was made by the ministers on June 28 during a videoconference meeting of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, where they also approved next steps for the creation of the Labour Market Information Council.

“Our government’s main priority is to create jobs and grow the economy through skills training and increased access to post-secondary education,” said Arseneault. “By working together as a country we will ensure that the decisions made moving forward respond to the labour needs of both the New Brunswick and Canadian workforce.”

Consultations will take place over the summer months to gather perspectives from a broad range of stakeholders to look at ways to improve the transfer agreements and inform future investments. This work will help support provincial and territorial employment and training programs that address labour market needs in a fast-changing economy.

These consultations will be held across Canada, online and through written submissions with a wide range of experts, stakeholders and individual Canadians. Information regarding these consultations will be posted on the Forum of Labour Market Ministers website.

The ministers will discuss the consultation results at their next meeting planned to take place in Quebec City in October 2016.

They also discussed the Year Two Review of the Canada Job Grant and efforts underway by federal, provincial and territorial governments to respond to the review’s findings to ensure that the grant is flexible and responsive, where it is implemented. The final report will be released on the Forum of Labour Market Ministers website in the coming weeks.

The ministers also endorsed a business plan for the implementation of the new Labour Market Information Council. The new council as well as a Stakeholder Advisory Committee will be created over the coming months. Through the council, governments and stakeholders will work together to ensure all Canadians, including students, businesses, workers and educators, have access to unbiased information they need to make informed decisions.

The ministers also acknowledged the significant commitment and ongoing work with industry and training partners toward harmonizing apprenticeship training in the Red Seal trades in most jurisdictions. The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship has identified the trades to be harmonized by 2020 with an effort to harmonize training for two-thirds of all apprentices in Red Seal trades, in most jurisdictions, by 2017.

“Canadians benefit when provinces, territories and the Government of Canada collaborate,” said federal Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Minister MaryAnn Mihychuk. “I am encouraged by the work we have accomplished, and I am looking forward to building on this progress. It is vital to ensuring Canadians have the information and skills they need to find and keep the jobs that will help to ensure the middle class, and those working hard to join it, can participate more fully in the labour market.”

Founded in 1983, the Forum of Labour Market Ministers is composed of provincial and territorial ministers and the federal minister responsible for labour market issues. The group promotes discussion and cooperation on common labour market matters.