Province to pay $17.6 million for employment and skills training after federal cut – DiscoverMooseJaw.com

The province will pay $17.6 million for employment and skills training in Saskatchewan after the federal government cut $625 million from the provincial/territorial Labour Market Transfer funding earlier this year. 

The announcement was made simultaneously by Sask Party MLAs and ministers in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, and North Battleford on Wednesday. 

In Moose Jaw, media heard from Dana Skoropad, MLA from Arm River, and Blaine McLeod, MLA from Lumsden-Morse. 

“These funding agreements support critical investments in Saskatchewan’s workforce,” Skoropad said, “and federal funding and complementary provincial investments make sure that Saskatchewan people can benefit from employment opportunities available in this province, both today and in the future. 

“This funding is used for training and career services delivered by local organizations, like the Moose Jaw and District Chamber of Commerce.” 

Labour market transfers were introduced by the federal government in the ‘90s to provide the provinces and territories with money for regional employment and skills development programs. 

Saskatchewan has two such agreements with Canada — the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) and the Workforce Development Agreement (WDA). 

In 2022-23, Saskatchewan received $83 million in funding from the combination of the LMDA and the WDA, helping approximately 40,000 clients. 

“In their 2024 budget, the federal government cut employment and skills training funding to all provinces and territories by a phenomenal number: $625 million,” McLeod said. “Those cuts have reduced Saskatchewan’s share … by $17.6 million, which represents a 20 per cent cut in funding. 

“Labour market transfers provide funding to post-secondary institutions and community-based organizations to develop a labour force aligned with employers’ needs. … That’s done through programs and services like apprenticeships, skills training, workforce development, employability assistance for person with disabilities, and the Canada-Saskatchewan Job Grant.” 

Blaine McLeod, MLA for Lumsden-Morse

The province has decided to bridge the $17.6 million shortfall for the 2024-25 year, assuring that no programs and services will be affected. Without the cut, the province estimates around 7,000 clients would have seen a reduction in services.  

Other provinces and territories have also called on the Federal Government to reverse the cuts, which returned program funding to pre-2017 levels. 

“This funding from the Government of Saskatchewan supports the delivery of our programs to assist local businesses in Moose Jaw and area and encourage people to develop their skills and join the workforce,” said Rob Clark, CEO of the Moose Jaw & District Chamber of Commerce. Clark noted that the Chamber’s recent program to get seniors and retirees back into the workforce would have been hit by the cuts if the province hadn’t filled the gap. 

“Our employment pairing program, Senior Moose Jobs, has benefitted retirees and businesses alike while overachieving our targets and is a great example of how working with the provincial government can make a positive impact on the lives of Saskatchewan residents.”