Key agreements signed for skills training, employment programs
Three agreements have been signed by the Government of Canada and the Government of New Brunswick to help connect citizens with available jobs.
“New Brunswick has the potential for a strong economy and employment growth over the coming years. To ensure the province’s prosperity, job openings have to be filled,” said Rob Moore, regional minister for N.B.
“The agreements signed today will not only help create jobs and opportunities for New Brunswickers, they will also help develop the skilled workforce New Brunswick’s economy needs.”
Part of the Canada Job Grant, the agreements will be delivered through the new Canada-New Brunswick Job Fund Agreement (formerly known as a labour market agreement).
The Canada-New Brunswick Labour Market Agreement for Persons with Disabilities was signed as part of the deal. With a focus on increased employer involvement, the new agreement is intended to better connect Canadians with disabilities to available jobs.
Reportedly, as many as 800,000 working-age Canadians with disabilities who are able to work are not currently doing so. Almost half of those individuals have post-secondary education.
The federal government will provide more than $5.9 million annually to N.B. under the agreement, a contribution that will be matched by the province.
Additionally, the federal and provincial governments signed the renewal of the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers, a cost-shared initiative that provides training to unemployed older workers in an effort to help them re-enter the workforce. The agreement represents a three-year federal investment of more than $2.5 million.
“We are growing our province’s economy by focusing on people, skills and jobs. 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,” said Jody Carr, N.B.’s minister of post-secondary education, training and labour.
“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.”
