Engineers Canada is pleased to see the federal government confirm new investments in labour market information with the tabling of their Economic Action Plan 2015.
Ottawa, Ontario, April 22, 2015 – Engineers Canada is pleased to see the federal government confirm new investments in labour market information with the tabling of their Economic Action Plan 2015. The Government proposes to reallocate $4 million over two years, beginning in 2015- 2016 to support the launch of a new one-stop national labour market information portal.
“Engineers Canada looks forward to working with the federal government on this important initiative,” say Chief Executive Officer Kim Allen, FEC, P.Eng. “Accurate, accessible, and up-to-date labour market data is essential for students, prospective immigrants and those looking to move within Canada for work. This is an important step to addressing skills mismatches and potential labour shortages in engineering and other industries.”
The budget includes other items of importance to the engineering profession:
- Proposed reallocation of $7 million over two years, starting in 2015-2016, to support improved labour mobility.
- Proposed reallocation of up to $35 million over five years, starting in 2015-2016, to make the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Pilot Project permanent to support internationally trained workers in their pursuit of foreign credential recognition.
- Thoroughly review the recommendations of the Panel on Employment Challenges of New Canadians.
- A one-time investment of $65 million to business and industry associations to allow them to work with willing post-secondary institutions to better align curricula with the needs of employers.
- An investment of $248.5 million over five years in Aboriginal labour market programming.
In other areas of interest to Engineers Canada, the Economic Action Plan 2015 will provide an additional $750 million over two years, starting in 2017-2018, and $1 billion per year ongoing thereafter for a Public Transit Fund.
“Over the last several years, this government has made serious investments in infrastructure, and the proposed Public Transit Fund is another example,” said Mr. Allen. “We do still feel that all infrastructure owners need to make sure that the investments communities count on are able to withstand extreme weather, and we look forward to working with them, and governments to make that happen.”
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For more information, contact:
William Meyer, Practice Lead, Communications
613-232-2474, ext. 249
will.meyer@engineerscanada.ca
