MoU to help unemployed find jobs sooner

Jul. 2, 2015 – Two governments have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which they say will pave the way towards retooling the federal-provincial job training deal to better align training with jobs sooner.

The MOU was signed by the Canadian and British Columbian government. Signed by Pierre Poilievre, minister of employment and social development, and Michelle Stilwell, minister of social development and social innovation (British Columbia), this is the second job training deal to be signed between the federal government and provinces.

“The new job training deal with B.C. will result in greater employer participation to ensure that Canadians are equipped with the skills employers need now and in the future,” said Poilievre.

“B.C. is reaching a tipping point with fewer young people entering the workforce than older workers leaving it. That is why we are taking steps now to meet the needs of our rapidly changing labour market,” continued Shirley Bond, minister of jobs, tourism and skills training and minister responsible for labour (British Columbia). “The re-negotiated Labour Market Development Agreement as well as funding provided under the Canada-B.C. Job Grant will better align training to job opportunities and ensure that British Columbians have the skills they need to find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy.”

The signing took place at VMAC Global Technology, a manufacturer of vehicle-mounted mobile air compressor solutions used for service trucks, public works, utilities, highway/heavy construction, oil and mining and a recent recipient of funding under the Canada Job Grant. At that time, Poilievre and Bond announced approximately 7,360 workers in British Columbia are receiving training through the Canada Job Grant (CJG). To date, over 1,400 employers have been approved for funding to train employees in British Columbia. Meanwhile, the CJG is providing 23 VMAC Global employees with training in sales, manufacturing, leadership development and supply chain technology.

“VMAC is very aware of the importance of investing in the training and education of our team members and their skill sets in order to grow our position within the manufacturing industry. The Canada Job Grant has provided us with the opportunity to continually invest in our employees, resulting in a highly skilled and knowledgeable team while also giving us a competitive advantage within a global capacity,” said Jim Hogan, president of VMAC Global Technology.