3) To Federal, Territorial and Aboriginal Governments

Develop incentives for employers to develop and deliver workplace and workforce literacy programs.

Design incentives to target small and medium employers – business and non-profits. Quebec has legislation that requires firms to make a minimum investment in training. Ontario recently introduced an apprenticeship training tax credit ^{Footnote 23}. Some other examples to consider include:

• Develop a tax credit or other incentive to encourage small and medium employers to invest in training.
• Consider a policy to tie training requirements with signed contracts for government work. For example, construction contracts must keep licensed journey people on site and hire a certain number of apprentices.
• Provide a training fund with matching contributions from employers and government.
• Develop a training levy. Consider joint governance of the funds. Include social partners who represent ‘at risk’ and other normally under-represented groups to improve distribution of training opportunities.
• Be more flexible with funding such as from EI and LMDA. Help ensure people not eligible for EI get funding for essential skills training.
• Continue to use tools such as socio-economic agreements and impact benefits agreements to identify targets for northern training, employment and business opportunities with large resource development projects.

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