August 15, 2016
Province Hosts Brandon Discussions on Labour Market Transfer Agreements
– – –Consultations to Help Make Programs More Responsive to the Needs of Manitobans: Wishart
Westman region today, hosting a roundtable discussion to gather input from stakeholders on employment and skills-training programs and services, and inform future directions of labour market transfer agreements, following a commitment of federal, provincial and territorial ministers to work together to examine key opportunities and challenges facing the Canadian workforce.
Today’s consultation is at the North Hill Campus, Manitoba Institute of Culinary Arts, Assiniboine Community College from 1 to 3 p.m. Minister Wishart hosted the first of four roundtables in Winnipeg on July 25, followed by Thompson and Portage la Prairie last week.
“The three previous sessions were incredibly informative and well-attended by stakeholders who presented a variety of ideas to help ensure workforce development programs continue to meet the needs of new and emerging labour markets in Manitoba,” said Wishart. “Participants have emphasized the need for greater program flexibility to enable new training opportunities, as well as stronger linkages between skills training and employers including targeted train-to-hire initiatives for in-demand sectors.”
Workforce development programming is valued at almost $3 billion nationally, and is foundational to ongoing economic growth and job creation in Manitoba and across Canada, the minister noted.
“The Brandon Chamber of Commerce’s most recent business climate survey indicated labour force issues as the single greatest challenge affecting business in our community,” said Jordan Ludwig, president, Brandon Chamber of Commerce. “It’s important that we engage our stakeholders – business leaders, provincial leaders and education institutions alike to ensure that we’re addressing these challenges in a proactive manner. These roundtables are a great way to get issues on the table and to identify unique solutions and plan strategy to deal with these challenges as they present themselves.”
“We are very pleased with the enthusiasm and level of interest these consultations have generated,” said Wishart. “We want to hear from a diverse group of organizations to ensure skills-training programs and services in Manitoba are reducing barriers and achieving results to their full potential. These discussions are an opportunity to work together with partner organizations to build a framework that will enable us to better support Manitobans in need.”
Funding agreements with the federal government provide almost $76 million to Manitoba each year for employment and skills-training programs. This funding supplements the province’s own investments in labour market development, which include apprenticeship training, programming for employers to meet workforce needs, work experience for youth, labour market integration programming for immigrants, supports for people with disabilities, entrepreneurship, as well as learning and literacy, among others.
“A key focus for us in these consultations is to identify what approaches are working, so we can learn from them and replicate or enhance them where possible,” said Wishart. “Ensuring there is an available supply of labour that is well-positioned to contribute is critical to the continued growth of our economy.”
Manitoba has been co-leading the planning and design of the consultations with Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. The province will present the results of its consultations to the Forum of Labour Market Ministers at its next meeting, planned to take place in Quebec in October.
The discussion paper Federal/Provincial/Territorial Consultations on Labour Market Transfer Agreements can be downloaded at:
www.flmm-fmmt.ca/CMFiles/2_3_Discussion_Paper_LMTA_EN%20_final.pdf.
The deadline for responses is Aug. 19 and comments can be sent to labourmarketconsultations@gov.mb.ca or Manitoba Education and Training, Room 405-800 Portage Ave., Winnipeg, MB R3G 0N4.
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