Investment through the Canada Job Grant will help train almost 200 workers in Prince Edward Island for in demand jobs, the governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island announced today. To date, 29 employers have been approved for funding to train new or current employees in areas that include welding, manufacturing and occupational health and safety.
One of the recipients is Trout River Industries, a privately held Canadian company that specializes in live-bottom trailers that allow for quick unloading of cargoes such as potatoes, grain or gravel. Trout River Industries received over $4,400 through the Canada Job Grant to provide welding training to 10 employees with limited welding experience. The training ranged from welding safety to techniques for producing quality welds. The company is investing over $2,200 in the training, for a total of approximately $6,700.
The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. By requiring employers to invest in training costs, the Canada Job Grant will result in skills training that will lead to jobs.
Under the Canada Job Grant in Prince Edward Island, the Government of Canada provides two-thirds of the total eligible training costs, up to $10,000, for expenses such as tuition, textbooks and student fees. Employers are required to contribute the remaining one-third of these training costs. Small businesses have additional flexibility to make an in-kind contribution towards their share of the cost through wages paid to the training participant.
Today’s announcement is one example of what the Government is doing to help Canadians. The Government has also increased the Universal Child Care Benefit (UCCB). All families with children will benefit from the new Family Tax Cuts and Benefits Plan, which includes the Family Tax Cut, the increased UCCB, the Child Care Expenses Deduction and the Children’s Fitness Tax Credit.
The Government of Prince Edward Island’s new department of Workforce and Advanced Learning is focused on providing support to employers in fulfilling labour force requirements while assisting Islanders with gaining long-term sustainable employment.
Quick Facts
• According to the provincial occupational forecasting system (2013–15), Prince Edward Island will see an estimated 3,500 job openings as a result of replacement needs and an increase of about 1,200 in new jobs.
• By 2017–18, over $1.2 million per year will be available for the Canada Job Grant in Prince Edward Island.
• Prince Edward Island is accepting employer applications for the Canada Job Grant. Employers are encouraged to apply at http://skillspei.com/programs-for-business-and-organizations/about-job-grant.
• Under the enhanced UCCB, families are receiving almost $2,000 per year for each child under 6 and $720 per year for each child aged 6 through 17.
Quotes
“The Canada Job Grant is taking skills training choices out of the hands of government and putting them where they belong: in the hands of employers and Canadians who want to work. By having employers directly involved in training decisions, the Canada Job Grant will lead to guaranteed jobs and will help businesses grow and succeed. And that is good news for the Canadian economy. Trout River Industries, and other employers like them, are great examples of how the Canada Job Grant is helping local workers get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs.”
– The Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Fisheries and Oceans and Member of Parliament for Egmont
“The Government of Prince Edward Island is committed to working in partnership with employers and trainers to build a skilled workforce while growing the Island's economy. The support provided to employers such as Trout River Industries through the Canada–Prince Edward Island Job Grant encourages investment in skills training for rural and urban Island companies allowing them to remain competitive not only locally, but also globally. We are looking forward to continuing to work with employers and trainers to build on the success of the Canada–Prince Edward Island Job Grant.”
– The Honourable Richard Brown, Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning
“The Canada Job Grant funding allowed us at Trout River Industries to partner up with Holland College in Alberton and modify a welding course to fit the needs of our employees and enhance their skills. Having the opportunity to enhance our employees’ skills enables us to work together to become more competitive at a global level in the manufacturing industry. We feel it is very important that our employees have the most up-to-date training and safety knowledge possible. Projects like this help us to stay current with trade skills and educate our employees to better themselves.”
– Tracey Wadman, Human Resources Manager, Trout River Industries
“In 2013–14, Amalgamated Dairies Limited invested close to $1.5 million in new equipment on our cheese packaging lines. New jobs created by this investment require specific skills and training. The Canada Job Grant provided assistance towards the cost of that training, improving both the skill level of our workforce and the integration of new technology into our production line.”
– Chad Mann, Business Development Manager, Amalgamated Dairies Limited