Job training program 'underutilized'

A federal-provincial job training program is underutilized, even though virtually every business is eligible for it, an Alberta Labour official told the Olds & District Chamber of Commerce.

Alberta Labour workforce consultant Nicole Lorrain made that comment during the chamber's lunch and learn event Jan. 11 at the Ramada Inn.

Under the Canada Alberta Job Grant program, the federal and provincial governments pick up two-thirds of an employee's training costs up to a maximum of $10,000 per employee. The employer is responsible for the remaining one-third.

"Unfortunately, the program is a little underutilized, so it's about getting the word out there, and that's why we come out and do these presentations because there are very few people who are not eligible for it, unless you are a municipality or government," Lorrain told reporters. So we're encouraging everyone to apply."

Lorrain says large, medium-sized and small businesses as well as non-profit entities are all eligible.

"All of those people can apply for the Canada Alberta job grant," Lorrain said.

"It's about making sure that we're giving our employees those opportunities, right? And making sure that they're feeling like we're investing in them in their professional development and that their employer is doing that, so that's the impetus behind where the program came from."

The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is an employer-driven training program. That means employers decide who gets training and what type of training is needed for new and/or existing employees.

Lorrain said the program is especially helpful for employers in the current economic downturn.

"I mean, if they previously were able to fund the full training and now things are a little tighter, this allows them to still be able to do that; to be able to access two-thirds of the funding and still be able to send their staff," she said.

The program cannot be used for apprenticeship training.

"But that doesn't mean an apprentice can't use it," Lorrain said. "So if an employer felt that the apprentice could benefit from other training that isn't their apprenticeship training, they're still eligible for that."