BETTER JOBS FOR CANADIANS: A STUDY ON THE RENEWAL OF THE LABOUR MARKET DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENTS
FEBRUARY 2015 – CANADA
The House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) recently published its study on the renewal of the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDAs).
This report is divided into six chapters. The first chapter provides a description of LMDAs and Employment Benefits and Supports Measures (EBSMs) including some statistical data, and a short description of complementary labour market agreements. Based on the testimony, it discusses the renewal process of LMDAs and presents some recommendations for the new generation of agreements. The second chapter focuses on testimony on accountability issues with regard to the current LMDAs and how to improve performance measurement and reporting in the new LMDAs. Based on the testimony, it includes a recommendation to create a new accountability framework. This framework would consist of new monitoring mechanisms including a diversity of stakeholders and the federal/provincial/territorial governments. The third chapter deals with the important topic of labour market information. Based on the testimony of many witnesses, it describes the limits of the current system and makes recommendations to improve the collection and sharing of labour market information.
The fourth chapter presents testimony on expanding eligibility for employment benefits offered under the LMDAs. It presents many aspects of this issue as discussed by witnesses. It asks the question of who should be eligible for employment benefits funded by LMDAs and makes recommendations to expand access to employment benefits. In connexion with that, this chapter also reviews the testimony related to Employment Insurance (EI) eligibility and the duration of the period of receipt of EI benefits. Finally, it presents testimony on the types of training programs, the costs of expanding accessibility to employment benefits and touches on the importance of facilitating interprovincial mobility for workers and persons in training. The fifth chapter presents testimony on the necessity to reach unemployed individuals as soon as possible after the loss of employment to assess their needs and get them involved in training that will lead to meaningful employment. Based on testimony, it suggests better collaboration between the federal/provincial/territorial governments to coordinate and share the information captured by the EI system and provincial/territorial training delivery services. The sixth chapter presents testimony on greater employer engagement in skills development and training that can be accomplished through employers’ contribution to training programs and their participation in labour market forums. In addition, this chapter reviews testimony on some provincial and international best practices in terms of employers’ involvement mechanisms. Finally, it describes some employers’ initiatives currently on the go in different parts of Canada, as well as challenges faced by some employers and solutions and recommendations brought up by witnesses.