Ottawa is setting up the Canada Jobs Grant program, which offers up to $5,000 for an individual to be trained for a specific job. Funding would be matched by employers and provincial governments, for up to $15,000 per person.
But to fund this, Ottawa is moving $300 million per year out of labour market agreements that pay for other programs.
“A little over 50 per cent of our programs are funded through the labour market agreement,” said Lesley Dunn, executive director of the Dartmouth Learning Network.
“So if that stops, we basically close shop.”
The organization helps 170 people, most of whom are on income assistance, learn skills such as reading, writing and math. The average person who enters its programs has a reading comprehension level below Grade 8.
Dunn said the loss of federal funding would kill “successful and innovative” programs that serve 100 people.
She said 24 of 34 community learning organizations across the province rely on the funding, and 800 people could lose programs.
Groups have joined together under the banner LMA Works in the hopes of swaying public opinion against the Canada Jobs Grant plan and in favour of labour market agreements.
Ottawa defended the jobs plan Monday while saying there is no need for the education initiatives to close.
“We’ve been having good conversations with the provinces about how we can ensure they continue with some of their good programs,” Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney said in the House of Commons.
“At the same time, we need more employer-led training where there is more investment in skills development and where jobs are guaranteed at the end of the training.”
Kenney’s office said employers across the country have told the government that programs are not producing enough workers to fill labour demand.
This rankled Dunn, who said her group produces results and has the numbers to back it up. She said the government is listening to business groups without properly consulting educators.
Kenney’s office said there is room for both approaches. Even after the $300 million in transfers expires on March 31, Ottawa will continue to transfer a further $200 million to provinces to spend at their discretion.
“If the Nova Scotia government considers the Dartmouth Learning Network as a priority, there is no reason why the association’s funding should be reduced,” said a statement from Alexandra Fortier, Kenney’s spokeswoman.
The provinces have been resistant to Ottawa’s plan. They have developed a counterproposal that they plan to pitch to the minister Tuesday.
While Kenney’s office said the government wants to give the provinces flexibility, the minister has also said he is willing to go ahead with the plan without their consent.
Kelly Regan, Nova Scotia’s labour and advanced education minister, could not be reached Monday.
In a statement, Regan did not address replacing federal funding but said she feared the Canada Jobs Grant will cut programs to the most vulnerable people.
“We are simply not willing to jeopardize them,” Regan said. “This is why we are working in solidarity with other provinces and territories to come up with an approach that will work for business and still provide support to those who need it most.”
Original Article
Source: thechronicleherald.ca/
Author: PAUL MCLEOD OTTAWA BUREAU
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