House Human Resources Committee nails it in employability study

While media coverage of Parliamentary committees makes them sound more like Roman coliseum blood baths, the House Human Resources and Social Development Committee has issued a timely and comprehensive report entitled, Employability in Canada: Preparing for the Future. Chaired by the well-respected Conservative MP Dean Allison (Niagara West-Glanbrook, Ont.), the committee has addressed the No. 1 issue facing businesses across Canada: skills shortages. Despite the downturn in the American economy, the Canadian economy, notably in the three western-most provinces—and increasingly so in other provinces, is facing chronic shortages such that major projects are delayed and companies have to hold back from bidding on contracts because they don't have the people to do the job. Undermining our international competitiveness? You bet! The committee nailed it right in many ways—the problem is a growing skills shortage which is slowing the economy. The solution is multi-faceted, requiring a federal-provincial, public-private sector and educational solution. The 211-page document includes some 70 recommendations and is the product of a two-year cross-Canada study. Some of the key recommendations include: calling on both levels of government to work together to develop a more skilled workforce which meets the needs of the economy; expanding the sector council model, which has existed in Canada since the late 1980s, and brings together business, labour, and other stakeholders in key sectors of the economy to advance skills development; facilitating mobility of workers to where the jobs are, full compliance with the mobility provisions in chapter 7 of the Agreement on Internal Trade; a pan-Canadian approach for assessing and recognizing credentials, both Canadian credentials across provinces and foreign credentials of newcomers to Canada; a coherent pan-Canadian adult learning strategy; continued improvements in support for post-secondary students and capacity-building initiatives in the post-secondary system; EI pilot projects to examine ways to enhance the employability of specific groups of workers who face barriers; measures that facilitate employment among older workers so that their experience and skills are not lost to the economy; increased funding for the Opportunities Fund and the development of new tax incentives to encourage employers to make the necessary accommodations to hire and retain workers with disabilities; a national early learning and childcare system; an expansion of the Working Income Tax Benefit; and new measures to help newly-arrived immigrants make a successful transition into the Canadian labour market. The report was a long time coming as many witnesses, myself included, appeared before the committee in late 2006. But this is one of the committees that also dealt with other issues and various private members bills. The vice chairs of the committee are Liberal Michael Savage (Dartmouth-Cole Harbour, N.S.) and Bloc member Yves Lessard (Chambly-Borduas, Que.). The key New Democrat on the committee is Tony Martin (Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.). Along with Lynne Yelich (Blackstrap, Sask.) who is Parliamentary secretary to the HRSDC minister, these MPs played a key role in ensuring that their parties' various approaches were well reflected. Allison credits the success of their report on a team effort: "this employability study is the result of hundreds of hours of work by dedicated and passionate individuals, including Members of Parliament from all political stripes and their staff, the Library of Parliament researchers, and indeed the many witnesses who we heard from in person or who submitted a brief." He adds, "while as Members of all political parties we have different views of accomplishing our objective, I can honestly say that as a committee we all had the same objective—keep Canada and our economy growing through a strong and productive workforce." He is confident that this report will not be gathering dust on a shelf as it speaks to an issue that is urgent for industry and has the attention of the federal government—his Conservative colleagues in Cabinet—especially on issues such as apprenticeship, the red seal program, post-secondary education and training and foreign credential recognition. Indeed the contentious immigration changes are part of the government's program to get more skilled workers into Canada on an expedited basis. Vice-chair Savage points to the enormity of the issue. "I think it is important because the challenge in the economy is different than it had been for a number of decades, namely in that for years the focus was on job creation and now we have large areas of the economy that simply cannot find workers. We need to do two things ... develop a more skilled workforce but also ensure that under-utilized groups of Canadians can benefit as well. Persons with disabilities, aboriginal Canadians, new Canadians and first generation learners need support to maximize their potential and also add to our national productivity." Much as this was an amiable committee there are minority reports from the Conservatives (costing of some recommendations), Bloc Québécois (concerned about staying out of provincial jurisdiction) and the NDP (the rights of temporary foreign workers). The general thrust as Allison notes is, nevertheless, multi-partisan, and the report is packed with creative and timely ideas. Assuming there isn't an election soon, the government will have a major job responding to this comprehensive tome within four months. Andrew Cardozo chairs the New Canada Institute. He is also executive director of The Alliance of Sector Councils. news@hilltimes.com The Hill Times

House Human Resources Committee nails it in employability study

Chaired by well-respected Conservative MP Dean Allison, the committee has addressed the No. 1 issue facing businesses across Canada: skills shortages.

To keep reading, subscribe and become a political insider.

Only $7.76 a week for an annual subscription.

Become a Political Insider

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8