Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM) – Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting

Toronto, Ontario, November 21, 2014 – Labour  market ministers from across Canada met today to build on their efforts to  resolve labour market challenges and ensure that all Canadians can take  advantage of economic opportunities. The Forum of Labour Market Ministers  (FLMM) is co-chaired by the Honourable Jason Kenney, federal Minister of  Employment and Social Development, and the Honourable Allen Roach, Prince  Edward Island Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning.

“It’s great to see serious momentum  developing on the skills agenda. The Forum of Labour Market Ministers plays a  key leadership role in addressing the paradox of an economy that has too many  people without jobs and too many jobs without people. Today, we made real  progress on improving labour market information, harmonizing apprenticeship  programs, helping new Canadians toward getting their credentials recognized and  getting better bang for the taxpayers’ buck in job training programs.”
– The Honourable  Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and co-chair of  the FLMM.

“Provinces and  territories across Canada are  working together to ensure we have programs and initiatives in place to further  engage our employers, strengthen our workforce and provide the foundational  skills that employees need across the country. We have had great discussions today,  and the work we have agreed upon will support  skills development and economic growth across Canada.”
– The Honourable  Allen Roach, Prince Edward Island Minister of Innovation and Advanced Learning,  and provincial-territorial co-chair of the FLMM.

Ministers agreed to work  together on several important labour market issues, including:

Labour Market Development Agreements
Ministers shared the results of stakeholder consultations and discussed a range of federal and provincial-territorial proposals to  ensure the Agreements remain aligned with labour market needs. More  specifically, they agreed on the importance of employer engagement,  accountability, adequate and stable funding and the benefits of helping people  get back to work quickly.

Labour Market  Development Agreements (LMDA) provide provinces and territories with approximately  $2.1 billion per year through Employment Insurance for programs that help  Canadians develop skills and find work, and help employers find the workers  they need. Provinces and territories use LMDA funding to operate employment and  training programs that are tailored to the needs of regions and communities.

Canada Job Fund
Final agreements for  the Canada Job Fund, which include the delivery of the Canada Job Grant (CJG),¹ have been signed by all provinces and territories. Ministers noted the progress  to date on the implementation of the CJG as the vast majority of provinces and  territories are now accepting applications from employers.

At this meeting, Ministers  agreed to a plan for conducting a review of the CJG following the first year of  implementation to learn from early results and determine whether and how the  grant is meeting needs of employers, with a report, including key findings and  recommendations, to be submitted to the FLMM in December 2015. This review will  evaluate whether the Canada Job Grant program is meeting its objectives and if  changes to the program parameters are necessary. In addition, Ministers  discussed an approach to measure success of the Canada Job Fund Agreements and  ensure the consistent reporting of the program results.

Apprenticeships
FLMM Ministers  received a report on progress on the pan-Canadian initiative to harmonize  apprenticeship programs for 10 Red Seal trades in 18 months, as directed in  July 2014.² Ministers maintained their commitment to strengthen apprenticeship training in  Canada and increase employer involvement in apprenticeship.  

Ministers agreed to  move forward by initiating discussions with industry related to priority  occupations, including carpenter, welder and metal fabricator (fitter). The  goal is to have mutual recognition to facilitate movement of apprentices of  these priority occupations and alignment of apprenticeship training programs  applied in most provinces and territories starting in September 2015. In  keeping with industry consultations, it is expected that most jurisdictions  will implement apprenticeship harmonization requirements for the next seven  trades by January 2016.

Ministers also acknowledged  further work on employer engagement to improve apprenticeship completion rates.

Labour Market Information
Increased  collaboration between governments is necessary to support ongoing improvements  to the quality and accessibility of labour market information (LMI).

Ministers endorsed A Framework for Labour Market Information for Canada that commits governments to  jointly set priorities and continue to improve how they work together on LMI.

Ministers agreed to work  together to improve the quality of data that supports instruments like the Job  Bank and improve the LMI available about under-represented groups in the labour  market. They also agreed to work together to provide Canadians with better  access to a wide variety of LMI, including survey and administrative data.  Ministers also tasked officials to develop clear recommendations for an  approach to improve LMI in Canada that includes all labour market partners, both  government and non-government, to be presented at their next meeting.

Foreign Qualification Recognition
Ministers endorsed a  renewed multilateral approach—An Action  Plan for Better Foreign Qualification Recognition—to better help new  Canadians have their qualifications recognized faster.³ Governments heard from regulators and others on the continued need to work  together to remove barriers. This plan focuses on improved pre-decision  supports, including access to the first steps in assessment overseas, clearer  communications and transition supports to better ensure that the skills and  experiences of newcomers are fully utilized in the Canadian labour market.

Labour Mobility
Ministers agreed to  a common approach to more broadly share labour mobility information with Canadians,  extending outreach to certified workers and interested stakeholders, as well as  continuing work with regulatory bodies. As part of this approach, governments  will provide more information online. Governments will also publish a report, Labour Mobility at Work, providing an  update on the state of implementation of Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility) of the  Agreement on Internal Trade.  

The FLMM was established in 1983 as an intergovernmental forum to  strengthen cooperation and strategic thinking on the labour market priorities  of the provinces, the territories and Canada.

The next meeting of the FLMM is expected to take place in Québec in  spring 2015.

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This  news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For further information (media only):

                                                                                           

Alexandra Fortier            Office of Minister Kenney                          819-994-2482

Media Relations Office            Employment and Social Development    Canada            819-994-5559

Provincial Contact:            Autumn Tremere            Prince Edward Island            Department of Innovation    and Advanced Learning            902-314-2460