Labour Market Development Programming

5.0 Labour Market Development Programming

5.1 The Management Committee will, within one month after the signing of this Agreement, appoint working groups and assign resources to undertake a review of the design of the Targeted Wage Subsidy Benefit, the Targeted Earnings Supplement Benefit, the Self-Employment Assistance Benefit and the Job Creation Partnerships Benefit, and the support measures with a view to identifying such modifications to program design, for consideration by the Management Committee and implementation under the Act, in order to:

a.meet the needs of agreed upon labour market development objectives and priorities as well as provincial and economic zone objectives, strategies and priorities;

b.facilitate effective EI client participation and self-sufficiency in the labour market and recognize the importance of enabling EI clients to remain active and improve their employability skills;

c.integrate EI client support with other aspects of economic development, including, but not limited, to the regional economic development strategies developed by Regional Economic Development Boards;

d.accommodate regional differences within the province, and provide needed flexibility in program design and management;

e.recognize the mutual obligations of governments, the private sector, training providers, community organizations and individuals; and

f.address equity concerns relating to occupational integration of designated groups as defined in Canada's Employment Equity Act, social assistance recipients, special needs clients, youth, recent graduates, apprentices, and other client groups identified by the Labour Market Partners.

 

5.2 The Management Committee will also establish a Working Group to design a Skills Loans and Grants program as an Employment Benefit, for approval by the Commission, targeted for establishment and implementation in Newfoundland and Labrador commencing in fiscal year 1997/98. In designing this benefit the Labour Market Partners agree that it will include among its objectives those identified in section 5.1, as applicable, as well as the following:

a.the promotion of co-operative education for EI clients, including co-operative education arrangements designed to provide a direct channel from secondary school into skills training; and

b.assisting EI clients achieve high school certification or equivalency.

 

5.3 For the purposes of subsection 61(2) of the Act, Newfoundland and Labrador hereby agrees that the Commission may provide financial assistance in support of the Purchase of Training Benefit and may continue to utilize the Purchase of Training Benefit, subject to Section 13.8, until such time as the proposed Skill Loans and Grants Benefit, referred to in section 5.2, is established.

 

5.4 The Management Committee shall explore the potential for establishing and for taking action to implement other employment benefits under section 59 of the Act.