After warnings of under-spending, Liberals eye boosts to job-training programs

Dec 27, 2018 | 12:27 PM

OTTAWA — Senior government officials have been warned that Canada was dangerously behind last year on spending to help workers improve their skills to stay employed.

A January 2018 presentation to a group of deputy ministers noted government spending on active labour-market programs is about half the average of spending in a group of comparator countries.

The committee of top-level public servants was told Canada would be less able to adapt to workforce shifts without a boost in spending.

The Canadian Press obtained the documents under the federal access-to-information law.

On the run

Prince Albert RCMP on the lookout for escaped inmate from Sask. Penitentiary

15h ago

Bar brawl

Shier pleads guilty in Fuel Stop assault

16h ago

Feb. 24, 2022

'You just get used to it': Four years after fleeing war, a displaced Ukrainian reflects on life in Saskatchewan

17h ago

In a year-end interview, Social Development Minister Jean-Yves Duclos talked about the need to use publicly funded job-training programs as a way to get more people into the labour force to help reduce poverty and keep the economy growing.

He says the federal government has a role to play in helping cash-strapped provinces pay for training programs, and ensure better information sharing between jurisdictions.

The Canadian Press