HUMA Committee Report

Recommendation 1.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada support the creation of a more formal public-private-academia partnership to be coordinated by the Forum of Labour Market Ministers with a mission to ensure a better match between the skills of young graduates and job seekers with those needed by Canadian employers. This partnership should allow for better sharing of labour market information already collected by various stakeholders in an attempt to provide more consistent forecasts in the future.

Recommendation 2.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue its efforts toward achieving better and more user-friendly labour market information, which could in turn be provided to students, graduates and job seekers, giving them the information they need to make informed education and career decisions.

Recommendation 3.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada address the lack of awareness of labour market information products available. A publicity campaign should be launched to educate the public on how to use labour market information and how it can contribute to their success on the labour market.

Recommendation 4.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to improve the labour market information and the delivery of other information available on its Working in Canada Website.

Recommendation 5.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to fund programs to increase enrolment and graduation rates in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Recommendation 6.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada increase collaboration between academia and industries using sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics professionals, to ensure that curricula are more relevant and meet the needs of  these industries.

Recommendation 7.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada, while respecting the jurisdiction of provincial/territorial governments with regard to education and training, consider establishing a panel, composed of officials from various governments, industry leaders and their associations, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), academia, policy-makers and other interested stakeholders. The panel would be given the mandate to find ways over the next three to five years to help SMEs embrace the technological shifts, hire information and communications technology (ICT) professionals and facilitate  their capacity to do business using ICT tools and contribute to Canada’s economy.

Recommendation 8.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada support action to increase collaboration between the information and communications technology industry and academia to ensure that the curricula will be more relevant and meet the needs of the industry and also be more likely to catch the attention of students. The curricula in Canadian colleges and university must be flexible, as technology changes so fast that it is hard to keep the curricula up to date.

Recommendation 9.

The Committee recommends that the Canadian Institute for Health Information continue its good work in tracking and collecting workforce data in health professions, including the dietitians, laboratory technicians and social workers professions on its list.

Recommendation 10.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada undertake a review of its current tax credits for apprentices and employers, particularly the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives and outcomes.

Recommendation 11.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada support round table discussions with multi-stakeholder panels that would be given the liberty to be creative and look at potential innovative solutions to the problem of skilled trades shortages in specific industrial sectors. For example, the idea of apprentice sharing among small and medium enterprises is an innovative idea that could benefit the private sector, the apprentices themselves and Canada’s economy.

Recommendation 12.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada work in partnership with stakeholders to determine if there is need to create better incentives for employers to take on even more apprentices for training, as well as to train and upgrade the skills of their existing apprentices by providing more on-the-job training, while taking into consideration the fact that the federal government currently has incentives for employees to choose apprenticeship training, as well as tax credits to support small and medium enterprises in hiring new workers.

Recommendation 13.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada review the resources allocated to the Adult Learning, Literacy and Essential Skills Program to confirm the current levels are sufficient to raise the basic skill level for adults.

Recommendation 14.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada identify ways to encourage young people to acquire work experience in occupations with lower skills requirements (while pursuing their studies), for example, by improving the Canada Summer Jobs program, if possible. These jobs could also be accompanied by French- or English-as-a-second-language training programs to provide young immigrants and other young Canadians with the opportunity to improve their language skills. The goal of these programs should be both to provide labour for low-skilled jobs and to provide students with work and language skills that can help them move into more highly skilled positions.

Recommendation 15.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to support the development of career awareness activities for educators, youth, parents, guidance counsellors and the general public, particularly activities created by the private sector to motivate youth to choose high demand occupations.

Recommendation 16.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada make labour market information available to high school guidance counsellors in a way that is relevant to the role they have to play guiding youth’s future. Understanding clearly the information shared with them, guidance counsellors can transfer the information to youth and parents and make sure that they are more aware of future  job opportunities.

Recommendation 17.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada build awareness about the extent of career opportunities in the sectors discussed in this report. For example, the government can communicate the value of apprenticeship certification for journeypersons, businesses, and consumers; and showcase professions and the exciting careers available in sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics and information and communications technology to improve the reputation of careers in these fields and increase the number of people who will choose a career in these growing sectors of the economy.

Recommendation 18.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to organize meetings with stakeholders so that they can present the changes they would like to make to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program; and that the government evaluate these proposals and implement them if they are deemed appropriate.

Recommendation 19.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada examine the possibility of offering better opportunities for temporary foreign workers to eventually become permanent immigrants.

Recommendation 20.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada review its international recruitment programs and ensure that it establishes Canada as the destination for talent. It should also continue to provide incentives to knowledge workers who want to move to Canada.

Recommendation 21.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada act on the March 2012 report by the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities entitled A Framework for Success: Practical Recommendations to Further Shorten the Foreign Qualification Recognition Process.

Recommendation 22.

The Committee recommends to the Government of Canada that it continue to work in partnership with Aboriginal leaders to find innovative ways to reach out to Aboriginal children and youth to raise their awareness of the benefits of an education and the exciting career options open to them. As well, it is crucial for Aboriginal young people to be aware of who are the employers hiring in their region and what skills they require of their employees.

Recommendation 23.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada support the Aboriginal Skills Employment Training Strategy agreement holders who wish, in collaboration with Aboriginal communities, to explore best practices to ensure that the education available to Aboriginal peoples meets the standards for high demand and technical professions. Education available on reserve should allow any Aboriginal youth to pursue education leading them to meet the demand for an apprenticeship, various skilled trades, or a career in information and communication technologies, sciences, technology, engineering, mathematics or the health sector.

Recommendation 24.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada ensure that some grants and contributions be designated to support projects that prepare people with disabilities for jobs in high demand with a good living wage and that better meet their skills and the knowledge gained through post-secondary education.

Recommendation 25.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada review the need to provide an incentive to employers for reducing barriers to employment for people with disabilities. It should be taken into consideration that most work accommodation is either low cost or actually is only a change in the business practices such as flexible work hours.

Recommendation 26.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada share the conclusions of the Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities with this committee as soon as possible after it tables its report to the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

Recommendation 27.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada create incentives (e.g., flexible work arrangements, skills development and financial incentives) for older workers wishing to defer retirement and support work-to-retirement  transition programs.

Recommendation 28.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to monitor the impact of phased-in retirement. Particularly, the federal government should follow closely the evolution of the Canada Pension Plan changes, which will not be fully implemented until 2016. It should ensure that these changes support older workers who want to continue to work.

Recommendation 29.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada raise awareness about promising best practices to retain mature workers in the workforce including mentorship programs, flexible work arrangements (e.g., telework and reduced work hours), and flexibility through changes in the pension system.

Recommendation 30.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada study the anticipated cost of introducing new fiscal measures that would help people who find jobs far away from where they live, for example a tax credit for travel and lodging if a person must work more than  80 kilometers from his or her residence, and that it study the potential impact of such measures on labour mobility and labour shortages.

Recommendation 31.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada provide more labour market information to high school students in remote communities, such as information on job opportunities in their regions and on the advantages of obtaining their high school diploma or pursuing post-secondary education (e.g., apprenticeship programs or college or university programs). This awareness campaign should employ not only traditional methods of increasing awareness but also new ways of reaching youth, for example, a tour of schools and community centres with representatives from Service Canada or the private sector, or an information campaign in local media or using social media.

Recommendation 32.

The Committee recommends that one or more parliamentary committees be tasked with studying the methods currently available to the federal government and the methods that could be established to improve productivity in Canada, thereby reducing the anticipated labour shortages.

Recommendation 33.

The Committee recognizes that workplace training is part of the solution to skills and labour shortages, as well as the development of those foundational skills needed for youth to transition to the workforce. The Government of Canada should continue to support projects that aim to improve these necessary skills and explore ways of improving that support.

Recommendation 34.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada study the possibility and cost of offering more financial incentives for on-the-job training, for example targeted tax relief for employers that offer training or by ensuring that the employment insurance program does not limit eligibility to training to those who have already been unemployed for a minimum number of weeks.

Recommendation 35.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada review the support available for co-op students in order to increase opportunities to gain experience in Canadian companies, including potential targeted tax relief for employers.

Recommendation 36.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada study the possibility of offering financial awards to assist college graduates in their future studies through a scholarship program similar to the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships program.

Recommendation 37.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada put in place a national skills strategy that would involve provincial/territorial governments, Aboriginal peoples, employers, unions, education institutions and students’ associations. The purpose of this strategy would be to ensure a better alignment of the skills of the adult population and those in demand by employers.

Recommendation 38.

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada continue to facilitate public-private partnerships and the sharing of best practices to find solutions to skills and labour shortages in high demand occupations and identify barriers to filling low-skilled jobs.