CANADA AND SASKATCHEWAN SIGN LABOUR MARKET PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT WORTH $109 MILLION

Ralph Goodale, Minister of Finance, on behalf of Belinda Stronach, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal, today announced the signing of the Canada–Saskatchewan Labour Market Partnership Agreement (LMPA) by Minister Stronach and the Government of Saskatchewan's signatory, Learning Minister Andrew Thomson. Federal funding for the Agreement is worth $109 million and represents new federal funding that comes into effect this year and extends over the next five years.

In welcoming the Agreement, Minister Goodale said, "The signing of a Labour Market Partnership Agreement with Saskatchewan represents a major departure in federal support for an innovative and collaborative approach with provinces and territories. This new partnership agreement will change the architecture of labour market programming and focus on priorities that both levels of government have identified. Saskatchewan is one of the first provinces to sign an LMPA, and the Government of Canada stands ready to negotiate LMPA agreements with other provinces and territories as well."

As a signatory to the Agreement, Minister Thomson noted, "Saskatchewan's economy is growing at a rate that may soon outpace our ability to supply it with skilled labour. This agreement builds on the strengths of the Premier's Action Plan for the Economy and supports the direction laid out in our recently released Training Sector Review. It will help to ensure that Saskatchewan people have the skills they need to take advantage of the opportunities presented in our rapidly growing economy."

Specifically, the Canada–Saskatchewan LMPA will result in new federal investments to achieve the following goals:

1. expansion and enhancement of apprenticeship;

2. labour market integration of recent immigrants;

3. literacy and essential skills;

4. workplace skills development (such as incentives to upgrade skills of existing workers);

5. assistance for Aboriginal Canadians; and

6. assistance for others facing labour market barriers (such as older workers, others who are displaced, and persons with disabilities).

An LMPA provides for new partnership arrangements and a focus on shared priorities that both orders of government have identified. The agreements are available to all provinces and territories, with federal funds available on a per-capita basis. The agreements are aimed at addressing shared priorities identified over the past two years of substantive work with provinces and territories. LMPAs will be funded through the Government of Canada's general revenues rather than through the Employment Insurance program, and will provide new approaches to labour market programming for working Canadians and others.

LMPAs also make provisions for input from employers, unions, Aboriginal organizations, training institutions, community-based organizations and third-party delivery agencies.

The Government of Saskatchewan has had a fully devolved Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) with the Government of Canada since 1999 and retains full responsibility for the administration, management and delivery of programs and services available under Part II of the Employment Insurance Act. LMDA EI Part II funding for the current year totals $39,009,000 for Saskatchewan.

The signing of this Labour Market Partnership Agreement recognizes that strong intergovernmental partnership is key to helping workers acquire the skills they need to fully participate in Canada's labour market and is key to ensuring that our labour market meets employer demand in all sectors of the economy.

Funding for this initiative is built into the Government of Canada's existing fiscal framework.

For further information, please refer to the following backgrounder:
Canada–Saskatchewan Labour Market Partnership Agreement.

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For More Information, Contact:

Normand Bergeron Office of Minister Belinda Stronach Phone: (819)994-2482	Jacquie McLean Learning Regina Phone: (306)787-5609 Cell: (306)535-2261
Media Relations Office Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Phone: (819)994-5559