Provinces offer counter-proposal to Kenney over Canada Job Grant

OTTAWA – The provinces and territories are seeking more compromise from the federal government over a much-touted skills training proposal from last year’s budget.

Ontario’s training, colleges and universities minister says the provinces and territories have come up with an alternative for the contentious Canada Job Grant.

Brad Duguid says their counter-proposal would give the provinces more flexibility on how the program would be funded and more flexibility for small businesses.

The proposed grant is supposed to provide $15,000 for each eligible worker, with the cost divided equally among Ottawa, the provinces and employers.

But the provinces have resisted, saying it would divert millions of federal dollars from programs the provinces already run, while asking them to pony up another $300 million to match funds for the grant.

Federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney offered in December to cover the provincial portion of the proposed grants, but the provinces say it would still take $300 million out of existing provincially run programs for marginalized workers.