Minister Kenney talks jobs, skills and the economy at #Can2020

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October 2, 2014                      Ottawa, Ontario           Employment and Social Development Canada

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, delivered a keynote speech today at the #Can2020 Conference that focused on the solutions the Government is implementing to ensure that all Canadians have the skills and training they need to contribute to Canada’s economic prosperity today and in the years to come.

The solutions Minister Kenney outlined include: the need for more employer-led training, harmonization of skills training, improved labour mobility and labour market information, and speeding up the foreign credential recognition for internationally trained professionals. He also highlighted the benefits of the Government’s recent improvements to the immigration system for quicker access to highly skilled professionals.

Minister Kenney pointed to the programs and policies that the Government has put in place that are benefitting Canadians by ensuring they have the skills for in-demand jobs. Access to a highly skilled workforce is essential to making sure employers will be able to fill the pending skills gaps left by retiring baby boomers.

He also highlighted that, with many free trades agreements in place, and billions of dollars of infrastructure and resource based projects coming on stream, it is more important than ever that provinces and territories, the private sector and post-secondary institutions work together to make certain Canadians are prepared for the opportunities to come.

Quick Facts

·        Hundreds of major resource projects, worth $650 billion in investment, are projected to come on stream in Canada in the next decade.

·        In the next 10 years, Canada is expected to need 300,000 new workers in the construction sector, with up to another 150,000 new workers in the petroleum sector and 145,000 new workers in the mining sector by 2020.

Quote

“Our government’s top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity for Canadians. That is why our government is working hard to create opportunities for all Canadians to develop the skills they need to succeed today and in the future. But, we want to—and need to—work together with businesses, provinces and territories, post-secondary educational institutions and stakeholders to maximize our economic growth potential as a country.”

– The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social DevelopmentStarBuzzOnline