HUMA Committee Report

Recommendation 1.1

The Committee recommends that federal and provincial/territorial governments contribute funding and work together with business, labour, educators and other key stakeholders to further the development of a national human resources planning capability by expanding the sector council model. As a first priority, efforts should focus on establishing a sector council on health care services.

Recommendation 1.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government support the establishment of stronger links between the skills needs identified by sector councils and those provided through the educational system to ensure that curricula reflects, and continues to develop in concert with, Canada’s socio-economic needs.

Recommendation 1.3

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada improve the quality and timeliness of labour market information and provide more detailed skills-based demand and supply forecasts for regional and local labour markets.

Recommendation 1.4

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada continue to work with the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship to standardize apprenticeship training and certification programs across the country, to increase the number of Red Seal certifications and to extend Red Seal designations to trades that require compulsory certification.

Recommendation 1.5

The Committee recommends that all signatories to Chapter 7 of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) continue to work toward full compliance, particularly in terms of workers with foreign training who are fully licensed in one jurisdiction, and that the Forum of Labour Market Ministers continue to examine avenues for improving the AIT’s mobility provisions as well as beginning discussions to expand the number of occupations covered under Chapter 7 and ensure the protection of technical and professional occupational standards.

Recommendation 1.6

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine the moving expenses provision of the Income Tax Act with a view to extending this provision to individuals who must leave their principal residence to work on a temporary basis, provided their principal residence is retained.

Recommendation 1.7

The Committee recommends that the federal government provide funding to assist individuals who agree to relocate to enter employment in occupations experiencing skills shortages.

Recommendation 1.8

The Committee recommends that skilled workers — as defined in Part 6, Division 1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations — applying to immigrate to Canada, especially those whose designated occupation is regulated, be fully informed by Immigration Officers and other stakeholders abroad as to the education, training and licensing requirements to practise in the province or territory in which they intend to reside. Applicants should be fully informed of credentials assessment services in Canada and should be strongly encouraged to have their credentials assessed by an approved agency prior to immigrating to Canada.

Recommendation 1.9

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to pursue, in cooperation with provincial and territorial governments and other stakeholders, a national agency for the assessment and recognition of credentials, especially foreign credentials. The Committee proposes that this agency adopt a broad mandate to: (1) promote national standards for the certification and licensing of workers; (2) develop and provide avenues for the assessment of credentials and the licensing of internationally trained individuals who immigrate to Canada; (3) ensure that equivalency exams are fair and accurately reflect the knowledge requirements expected of individuals educated in Canada; (4) promote international awareness about our education and certification requirements for various occupations; and (5) promote the development and adoption of a system for recognizing prior learning and work experience to facilitate access to the formal education system.

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Recommendation 2.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government consider expanding and restructuring the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit and the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant to encourage growth in apprenticeships and the completion of apprenticeship training generally.

Recommendation 2.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine and evaluate, in coordination with the provinces that do not already have a similar program, a federal training fund based on the Quebec model, into which all employers with payrolls over $1 million are required to invest the equivalent of 1% of their payroll, minus the amount they verifiably spend on workplace literacy and other training.

Recommendation 2.3

The Committee recommends that the Forum of Labour Market Ministers and the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada work together to examine and implement ways to better integrate apprenticeship training and post-secondary education across the country. It is thought that a more integrated system would increase the attractiveness of apprenticeship training and accommodate the movement of individuals between both systems.

Recommendation 2.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government encourage employers to provide workplace literacy training by permitting them to deduct some multiple of literacy training-related expenses that are incurred relative to some predetermined period or base year.

Recommendation 2.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, set concrete national targets in the short, medium and long terms to raise Canada’s literacy rates based on the International Adult Literacy and Skills Survey. The Committee recommends that the federal government begin as soon as possible to develop and implement a ten-year plan with adequate funding to achieve these targets through a coherent national adult learning strategy, including bilateral accords with each province and territory.

Recommendation 2.6

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, commit to adequate, long-term, stable, transparent, core funding for national, provincial, territorial and regional literacy coalitions, and other education and training-based organizations, including funding for public awareness and learner outreach projects; financial and logistical access and support for learners; professional development; family literacy approaches; and partnerships between levels of government, and between employers and labour.

Recommendation 2.7

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to monitor the impact of the Canada Student Loans Program on students from low-income families, students from immigrant communities, students from rural and remote parts of Canada, Aboriginal students and students with disabilities, to ensure that these students have equitable access to student financial assistance programs. The federal government should monitor debt levels associated with student loans and ensure, through non-repayable financial support, that borrowing costs do not constrain access to a post-secondary education.

Recommendation 2.8

The Committee recommends that the federal government consider the following changes to the student loan system in its discussions with provincial and territorial governments pursuant to the proposals in Budget 2008 and issue a response to the Committee:

1. Significantly reduce or eliminate the federal student loan interest rate;
    
2. Create a federal Student Loan Ombudsperson to help students navigate the loan system, objectively resolve problems and ensure that students are treated with fairness and respect;
    
3. Provide better relief during repayment of student loans, including expanding eligibility for permanent disability benefits, interest relief and debt reduction;
    
4. Create enforceable federal standards governing the conduct of government and private student loan collection agents, subject to the policy objective of helping students find ways to repay their loan;
    
5. Ensure that student borrowers are made aware of the total cost of their loan and receive regular, clear, accurate statements of account;
    
6. Amend the “lifetime limit” on student loans such that they are not repayable until six months after the completion of full-time studies, including doctoral programs and medical residency;
    
7. Reduce the discriminatory ban on bankruptcy protection for student loans to two years;
    
8. Work with the provinces and territories to ensure that each Canadian student loan borrower can integrate all federal and provincial/territorial loans into one single loan for simpler repayment; and
    
9. Reinstate the six-month interest-free grace period.

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Recommendation 2.9

The Committee recommends that the federal government review Canada Student Loan repayment policies and practices to ensure that students who incur high levels of debt under the Canada Student Loans Program have sufficient flexibility to repay their loans. Consideration should be given to specifying conditions for extending the period at which loan repayment begins, as well as the period at which interest on loans begins to accrue. This additional flexibility is particularly important for individuals, such as medical school graduates and other post-graduate students, who currently cannot defer repayment despite ongoing training.

Recommendation 2.10

The Committee recommends that the federal government provide long-term, stable funding in a dedicated post-secondary education transfer, in continuing collaboration with the provinces and territories.

Recommendation 2.11

The Committee recommends that, subject to provincial and territorial agreement, the federal government continue to fund capacity-building initiatives in Canada’s post-secondary education system and that consideration be given to providing ongoing funding for post-secondary infrastructure.

Recommendation 2.12

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to monitor the borrowing needs of part-time learners, including mature students, to ensure that they have adequate access to publicly funded, needs-based financing.

Recommendation 2.13

The Committee recommends that the federal government review the Income Tax Act with a view to broadening the applicability of tuition and education tax credits, as well as the tax credit for interest paid on student loans, to provide more financial incentives to adults to engage in lifelong learning.

Recommendation 2.14

The Committee recommends that the federal government ensure that funding is provided to finance cost-shared projects that make use of technologies to expand lifelong learning opportunities, particularly projects that address the learning needs of workers in geographical areas where access to Canada’s post-secondary education system is limited.

Recommendation 2.15

The Committee recommends that the federal government establish assistance measures for workers, especially low-income workers, to allow them to participate in lifelong learning.

Recommendation 2.16

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to work with the provinces and territories to improve the effectiveness of measures delivered under Labour Market Development Agreements. Primary consideration should be given to improving the effectiveness of Employment Benefits and Support Measures in addressing Canada’s growing skills shortages.

Recommendation 2.17

The Committee recommends that the federal government review the definition of “insured participant” under section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act with the intent of broadening eligibility for Employment Benefits and Support Measures.

Recommendation 2.18

The Committee recommends that, pursuant to Part V of the Employment Insurance Act, the federal government develop and implement pilot projects to:

1. Assess the impact and effectiveness of various qualification requirements and coverage conditions to identify program reforms that would strengthen work incentives, enhance employability and better address the needs of self-employed workers; and
    
2. Assess the effectiveness of EI contribution rebates for employers who: provide training to enhance the employability of workers in seasonal employment, older workers, Aboriginal workers and workers with disabilities; alleviate specific skill shortages; and enhance the basic skills of individuals with low levels of literacy.

Pilot project costs associated with this recommendation should not be included as part of the expenditure limit contained in section 78 of the Employment Insurance Act.

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Recommendation 2.19

The Committee recommends that, subject to cost-shared funding arrangements and agreements with the provinces and territories, the federal government provide financial assistance to support measures that reduce the high school dropout rate.

Recommendation 3.1

The Committee recommends that the Minister of Labour encourage provincial and territorial labour ministers to establish a working group to examine barriers to continued employment among workers once they reach the age of 65, especially with regard to mandatory retirement provisions that continue to operate in some parts of the country.

Recommendation 3.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine section 15 of the Canadian Human Rights Act with a view to defining as a discriminatory practice the termination of an individual’s employment because he or she has reached the normal age of retirement for employees working in similar positions.

Recommendation 3.3

The Committee recommends that in their next triennial review of the Canada Pension Plan the Ministers of Finance consider possible changes to the Plan to better accommodate concurrent work and partial pension payments, and examine the need for actuarial adjustments to Canada Pension Plan payments with a view to ensuring that the impact of this program on seniors’ decisions to remain in the workplace is, at the very least, neutral.

Recommendation 3.4

The Committee recommends that the federal government monitor and assess the impact of the proposal in Budget 2008 to increase the Guaranteed Income Supplement earnings exemption to $3,500.

Recommendation 3.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine the efficacy of broadening the age and community eligibility criteria under the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers. In addition, consideration should be given to broadening the scope of this or some other program to support internship and mentorship opportunities for older workers. In the event that the Targeted Initiative for Older Workers program is broadened, funding could come from the newly announced $500 million investment in new labour market programming, given that one of the stated objectives of this spending is to increase the labour force participation of under-represented groups in the Canadian labour market.

Recommendation 3.6

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada conduct a comprehensive evaluation, in full consultation with Aboriginal groups, of the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy to assess the results to date and to determine whether the Strategy can: meet the needs of Aboriginal working parents (particularly single mothers); meet the needs of a rapidly growing young Aboriginal population that will reach working age in the near future; and achieve its long-term goal of raising the Aboriginal employment rate to a level comparable to that found among non-Aboriginal Canadians. Based on the results of this evaluation, the federal government should, if necessary, dedicate additional resources as needed, in particular by adopting long-term strategies of ten years to provide Aboriginal organizations, including band governments, planning and consultation time in the beginning years so they can take full advantage of the opportunities offered, and make any necessary modifications to the Strategy to enhance its effectiveness in meeting the employability needs of Aboriginal people.

Recommendation 3.7

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in partnership with provincial/territorial governments and Aboriginal stakeholders, take immediate steps to strengthen the commitment to provide high-quality, culturally relevant elementary and secondary education to Aboriginal students. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada should develop culturally sensitive measures and programs to reduce the high school drop-out rate among Aboriginal students and to better prepare students for post-secondary education. Pilot projects that would allow students to be linked with successful Aboriginal mentors should be used to strengthen school attendance and completion. The Committee recognizes the particular need to address education for First Nations and Aboriginal people from a lifelong learning perspective which includes: early childhood development; kindergarten to grade 12; post-secondary education; adult education and training. Part of this approach must include a commitment to build more schools on reserves to address the chronic lack of classroom space.

Recommendation 3.8

The Committee recommends that the federal government commit to better supporting Indigenous education institutions, taking into consideration the proposals in Budget 2008.

Recommendation 3.9

The Committee recommends that the federal government take the necessary steps to improve access to post-secondary education for Aboriginal people. Among other initiatives, the eligibility criteria for the Post-Secondary Student Support Program and the University College Entrance Preparation Program offered through Indian and Northern Affairs Canada should be broadened, and the budget for these programs should be increased and indexed to growth in the Aboriginal post-secondary school-age population. The federal government must continue to support the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Post-Secondary Student Support Program and consider removing the two-per cent cap instituted in 1996.

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Recommendation 3.10

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial/territorial governments and Aboriginal stakeholders, develop a program to raise awareness among Aboriginal people about the importance of, and economic benefits associated with, completing a post-secondary education.

Recommendation 3.11

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada encourage the participation of Aboriginal people in trades-related training by working with Aboriginal stakeholders to examine initiatives and budgets geared specifically to meeting the needs of Aboriginal workers.

Recommendation 3.12

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to support and implement fully the Racism-free Workplace Strategy to reduce discriminatory barriers to employment, promote a better understanding of Aboriginal cultural issues, and promote the socio-economic advancement of Aboriginal people.

Recommendation 3.13

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in partnership with other governments and Aboriginal stakeholders, develop innovative solutions to relocation problems that arise when Aboriginal people, especially youth and women, move to urban centres in search of employment.

Recommendation 3.14

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine the feasibility of developing incentive-based programs to encourage partnerships between employers operating near reserves and Aboriginal stakeholders that would foster training and employment opportunities on or near reserves.

Recommendation 3.15

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in partnership with provincial/territorial governments and Aboriginal organizations, develop a national Aboriginal housing policy to address the needs of Aboriginal people living on and off reserves. To maximize the socio-economic benefits of this policy, skills training should be provided to Aboriginal people who are interested in jobs related to residential construction, housing services and other occupations in the housing industry.

Recommendation 3.16

The Committee recommends that the federal government recommit to an Aboriginal Business Strategy, in which it would support Aboriginal economic development by setting fixed targets to make Aboriginal-owned businesses a preferred supplier of services and materials, especially in remote and northern regions.

Recommendation 3.17

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in consultation with provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders, continue to develop and implement a national disability act to promote and ensure the inclusion of people with disabilities in all aspects of Canadian society.

Recommendation 3.18

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase funding for the Opportunities Fund and expand the terms and conditions of this program to support effective long-term interventions and skills development opportunities, especially with respect to essential skills training. A portion of the increased funding could be used to enhance the participation of employers and to provide employers and employees with knowledge about disability issues, accommodation in the workplace, and the tools available to create an inclusive workplace. Particular attention should be given to monitoring and reporting results to ensure that the program achieves its anticipated outcomes.

Recommendation 3.19

The Committee recommends that one of the objectives associated with the recently proposed $500 million investment in new labour market programming be the successful integration into the labour market of persons with disabilities, with a goal to increase opportunities for those who face multiple barriers to employment. New funding levels for this objective should be established in accordance with federal–provincial/territorial agreements.

Recommendation 3.20

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada conduct a thorough assessment of the disability component of the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy and on the basis of this assessment make the necessary revisions to enhance the labour force participation of Aboriginal people with disabilities.

Recommendation 3.21

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in consultation with provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders, assess the need for and develop initiatives to improve accessibility within the learning environment for students with disabilities.

Recommendation 3.22

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in consultation with provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders, assess the need for and develop initiatives to facilitate school-to-work transitions for young people with disabilities.

Recommendation 3.23

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in consultation with employers and stakeholders, develop new tax incentives to encourage employers to make the necessary accommodations to hire and retain employees with disabilities (e.g., technical equipment, modified workstations, etc.).

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Recommendation 3.24

The Committee recommends that the federal government assess and enhance its role as a champion and role model in the creation and development of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, including by using its purchasing power to acquire products and services produced or provided by persons with disabilities; by extending coverage of the federal contractors program to include more employers; by reviewing and enhancing employment equity measures; and by ensuring that the full spectrum of employment opportunities of the federal government and its agencies include persons with disabilities.

Recommendation 3.25

The Committee recommends that the federal government take further steps to enhance pay and employment equity in Canada; affirm that pay equity is a fundamental human right protected under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and human rights law; and devise an effective methodology for job evaluation, job comparison and wage adjustments.

Recommendation 3.26

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada establish pilot projects under the Labour Market Agreements for Persons with Disabilities to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of providing disability-related supports (including mobility devices) to eligible participants to facilitate their integration into the labour market. The list of disability-related supports that would be eligible for funding should be developed in consultation with the provincial and territorial governments, disability groups and Aboriginal organizations.

Recommendation 3.27

The Committee recommends that the federal government expand the Working Income Tax Benefit to address the low-income wall by including more low-income workers, specifically by raising the maximum income amounts for single workers and single parents. The federal government should assess the Quebec and Saskatchewan models for ways to reduce the lag time between assessment of income and receipt of benefit.

Recommendation 3.28

The Committee recommends that the federal government consider requesting that provincial and territorial governments devote some portion of the Canada Social Transfer to finance comprehensive and effective labour market adjustment support to help social assistance recipients enter financially rewarding employment. Income support paid to social assistance recipients participating in these labour market adjustment programs should be treated as earnings for the purposes of the Working Income Tax Benefit.

Recommendation 3.29

The Committee recommends that the federal government maintain and extend affordable housing programs — in consultation with the provinces and territories and stakeholders — to increase the supply of affordable housing and thereby enhance the employability of low-income individuals, including Aboriginal people, recent immigrants and single-parent families, three groups whose core housing needs are relatively high.

Recommendation 3.30

The Committee recommends that the federal government ensure full funding for a national public early learning and child care system, including existing private child care centres, and pass legislation to enshrine principles of accessibility, quality and accountability in such a system, in consultation with provinces, territories and stakeholders.

Recommendation 3.31

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada develop and implement an EI pilot project to test the effectiveness of providing mobility assistance to seasonally employed workers who extend the duration of their seasonal jobs by moving within a region. This pilot project would assess the effects on employability of providing, in addition to mobility support, a supplementary EI benefit once a claim is established. The value of the supplementary benefit would depend on the number of additional weeks of seasonal employment worked. Participation in the pilot project would be voluntary.

Recommendation 3.32

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada develop and implement a pilot project that provides financial incentives to seasonal claimants who accept employment or enrol in training during the off season.

Recommendation 3.33

The Committee recommends that federal regional economic development agencies, in consultation with the provinces, territories and stakeholders involved in community economic development, establish initiatives that support community-driven economic development projects designed to create off-season or year-round employment opportunities in communities experiencing relatively high levels of unemployment.

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Recommendation 4.1

The Committee recommends that the federal government review the assessment criteria used to select individuals who apply to immigrate to Canada as skilled workers with a view to: restricting points awarded for education to post-secondary education and training; providing more points (perhaps bonus points) for education and trades training recognized in Canada; providing more points for arranged employment; providing points for high-skills occupations experiencing chronic shortages; providing points for Canadian work experience; and awarding points for official languages based on approved official language tests.

Recommendation 4.2

The Committee recommends that the federal government consider restructuring the points system to reward potential immigrants who can demonstrate that they have had their credentials assessed by an approved assessment agency. Although the results of these assessments may alter the decision to immigrate, at the very least they will serve to refine applicants’ expectations and provide them with important, but necessary, information on any further education, training and licensing required to work in their designated occupation in Canada.

Recommendation 4.3

The Committee recommends that the federal government adopt a multi-year Immigration Plan and, to the greatest extent possible, make a commitment to ensuring that skilled worker principal applicants account for at least 20% of our total annual immigration intake. In addition, Citizenship and Immigration Canada should give high priority to reducing the inventory of skilled worker applications for immigration to Canada. For greater clarity, it is not the Committee’s intent that this recommendation adversely affect the intake of immigrants in other immigration categories.

Recommendation 4.4

The Committee recommends that Citizenship and Immigration Canada examine and report on ways to facilitate the transition of foreign workers from temporary to permanent status and conduct a thorough assessment of the means and implications of recognizing, as temporary foreign workers, illegal workers who can demonstrate their successful integration into the Canadian labour market.

Recommendation 4.5

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in cooperation with provincial and territorial governments and stakeholders, take immediate action to end abuse and exploitation, and ensure labour rights and appropriate working and living conditions of participants under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program and the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program.

Recommendation 4.6

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Social Development Canada, in formulating its Labour Market Opinion pertaining to an employer’s application to hire foreign workers, also assess the applicant’s efforts to attract and train workers in Canada.

Recommendation 4.7

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine the need for a special program to provide financial assistance in the form of loans and grants to newly arrived immigrants who require education or training to upgrade their credentials in order to attain Canadian accreditation.

Recommendation 4.8

The Committee recommends that Citizenship and Immigration Canada monitor closely the demand for job-related language training and seek additional funding as required to meet the needs of highly skilled immigrants who are unable to find employment in their intended occupation because they lack adequate official language skills.

Recommendation 4.9

The Committee recommends that one of the objectives associated with the recently proposed $500 million investment in new labour market programming could be the successful integration of newly arrived immigrants into the Canadian labour market. In pursuit of this objective, a subsidy could be paid to employers who provide work opportunities to immigrants who are unable to find employment in their intended occupation because they lack Canadian work experience.

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