Growing Canada’s Economy

Over the last year, provinces and territories across Canada have welcomed refugees from around the world. In particular, over 25,000 refugees from Syria have arrived into hundreds of communities across the country since November 4, 2015. In order to support a successful transition to life in Canada, Premiers call on the federal government for sufficient funding for key services such as education, language training and workplace training.

Under the Canada-Québec Accord relating to immigration and temporary admission of immigrants, Québec fully assumes sole responsibility for establishing immigration levels, and for the selection, francization and integration of immigrants. In areas under its responsibility, Québec develops its policies and programs, legislates, regulates and sets its own standards. Canada’s Premiers call on the federal government to establish an equivalent agreement to the Canada-Québec Accord with all provinces and territories.

The Francophonie is a fundamental element of the Canadian federation. Premiers asked the federal government to increase to 5% the level of francophone immigration to Canada outside Québec.

Skills

Effective employment and skills training programs are critical to help individuals succeed and enhance Canada’s prosperity in the context of a changing economy.

However, there are segments of Canada’s unemployed whose needs could be better met. With responsibility for the design and delivery of labour market programming, provinces and territories are committed to finding better ways to meet those needs. Following the consultations that are underway led by the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, provinces and territories expect that the federal government will work with them collaboratively to ensure the necessary funding and flexibility are provided to design and deliver services that address the specific needs of employers and individuals within their jurisdictions, that the permanent nature of existing agreements is preserved, that sufficient administrative funding is provided, and that no province or territory is adversely affected.

Premiers direct their labour market ministers to work with the federal government to consider how the existing labour market agreements could be more flexible, including broadening eligibility under Labour Market Development Agreements. Premiers ask their ministers to develop a new generation of labour market transfers. These should include federal investments that better meet the needs of under-represented groups including Indigenous peoples, youth, recent immigrants, persons with disabilities, and those who are not eligible for Employment Insurance benefits. This reaffirms responsibility and leadership of provinces and territories and avoids duplication with their programming.

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Media enquiries may be directed to:
Kate Durand

Communications, Executive Council Office Government of Yukon
(867) 667-8968
Cell: (867) 335-0686
[email protected]