Through the Canada Job Grant, employers in Salmon Arm will receive over $17,000 in funding to provide skills training to their employees. The announcement was made today by Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan–Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and by Greg Kyllo, Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan and MLA for Shuswap, on behalf of the Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour.

Mr. Mayes and Mr. Kyllo took the opportunity to congratulate seven separate local employers who received funding, including Eagle Home Sales, where the announcement took place. Eagle Home Sales, a family-run modular home business that employs 18 people in British Columbia, received a Canada Job Grant to train 11 employees in the areas of management, sales and customer service.

The Canada Job Grant is an innovative, employer-driven approach to help Canadians gain the skills and training they need to fill available jobs. It is designed to be flexible enough to meet the needs of businesses of all sizes, in all industries and regions. By requiring employers to invest in training costs, the Canada Job Grant will result in training that leads to available jobs.

The Job Grant provides up to $15,000 per person for training costs such as tuition and training materials, which includes up to $10,000 in government contributions.

The Canada Job Grant will ensure that employers participate meaningfully as partners in the skills training system and share in the associated costs. This will ensure that training is better aligned with job opportunities, particularly in sectors facing skills mismatches and labour shortages.

To date, over 7,300 workers in British Columbia are receiving training through the Canada Job Grant, and over 1,400 employers have been approved for funding to train new or current employees.

Quick Facts:

• By 2017–18, a total of approximately $300 million per year will be invested nationally in the Canada Job Grant.
• More than 78 percent of forecasted job demand will require some form of post-secondary education, 44 percent of which will need a college education or apprenticeship training.

Quotes:

The Honourable Pierre Poilievre, Minister of Employment and Social Development -

“Our Government’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. 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 British Columbia’s economy.”

Colin Mayes, Member of Parliament for Okanagan–Shuswap -

“The Canada Job Grant will help workers in British Columbia get the skills they need to fill available jobs in today’s economy. This is great news for workers and their families across British Columbia. I encourage all local employers to consider their current and future skills needs and apply for a Canada Job Grant to help train new or current employees for available jobs.”

Greg Kyllo, Parliamentary Secretary for the BC Jobs Plan and MLA for Shuswap -

“A skilled workforce is fundamental to keeping B.C.’s economy diverse, strong and growing. By helping employers invest in their workers, we are providing new and better job opportunities for people in Salmon Arm. The opportunity Eagle Home Sales is providing its employees is a great example of how the Canada–B.C. Job Grant is helping local workers get the skills and training they need to fill those jobs.”

Jodi Bland, Eagle Homes Administrator and family member -

“Our family business, Eagle Homes, recognizes that education is empowerment. We have always been committed to educating and training our staff. Eagle Homes believes that creating a knowledgeable and skilled staff is good for our clients, our community and our business. We are very pleased to participate in the Canada Job Grant, as this will help us acquire the skills we need to remain competitive.”

Associated Links:

Canada Job Grant (esdc.gc.ca)

Canada Job Grant (British Columbia) (workbc.ca)