Prince Edward Island workers will be better prepared to be part of the growing economy, thanks to two new federal-provincial agreements announced today by the Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Industry, on behalf of the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, and the Honourable Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island.
The first agreement, a new Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA), will give Prince Edward Island the responsibility for delivering nearly $27 million annually in Employment Insurance-funded Employment Benefits and Support Measures. This will provide the Province with the flexibility to focus job training programs and employment supports on the local and regional needs of both employers and clients. The Province will assume this responsibility as of October 1, 2009.
The second agreement, a new Labour Market Agreement (LMA), will inject more than $12 million over the next six years into Prince Edward Island labour market programs and will provide an important resource that supports labour market training in the province. In an increasingly tight and competitive labour market, Prince Edward Island recognizes that economic growth will depend to a large extent on its ability to match labour force development with resources, thus ensuring employers have access to an educated, skilled and adaptable work force.
The funding will be used to enhance labour market participation of individuals by helping them to prepare for entering into, returning to or maintaining skills for employment. This agreement will provide employment and training programs for Islanders who are unemployed or underemployed.
“Through these new agreements Canada’s Government will be helping up to 5,800 people in Prince Edward Island get the training and skills development they need, while also creating a pool of skilled workers,” said Minister Prentice. “With today’s announcement, we are one step closer to ensuring that our long-term economic plan, Advantage Canada, will continue to pay dividends for families in Prince Edward Island.”
Premier Ghiz said these new agreements allow the Province to match its skills development programs with its economic agenda.
“Our government has a very clearly defined economic strategy, and the LMDA gives government the flexibility it needs to offer training and employment in the key sectors we have identified for growth,” said Premier Ghiz. “This agreement will help expand and grow the Province’s skilled educated workforce by giving Islanders job training opportunities, and it will also help employers meet their labour force needs.”
Dr. Brian McMillan, Holland College President, is confident that the agreements will provide the foundation for Prince Edward Island to develop a highly skilled and adaptable labour force. “The College congratulates the Government of Canada and the Province of Prince Edward Island for establishing two very significant agreements that will enable Islanders, both employed and unemployed, to develop the necessary skills to have fulfilling careers in today's constantly changing knowledge economy,” said Dr. McMillan.
As part of the agreement for the Province to assume responsibility for delivering services under the LMDA, federal employees currently doing this work in Prince Edward Island will receive job offers with the provincial government to continue their work. Discussions are now underway to promote a smooth transition for these employees and to ensure continuity of service to the individuals served under the LMDA.
The signature of these two labour market agreements fulfills commitments made in the Government of Canada’s long-term economic plan, Advantage Canada, and the recent federal budget to create the best-educated, most-skilled, and most flexible work force in the world. Similar agreements have been signed with several provinces, and further agreements are being negotiated with other provinces and territories and will be signed in the coming months.