Advanced Education and Skills
November 2, 2015

Supporting Skilled Workers for Strong Communities

Provincial Government Signs Memorandum of Understanding with British Columbia

The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia finalized a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will assist apprentices in acquiring the work hours and experience they need to advance their careers. Effective immediately, this MOU is the result of an agreement-in-principle signed by the Honourable Paul Davis, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador and the Honourable Christy Clark, Premier of British Columbia during the 2015 summer meeting of Canada's premiers.

"This Memorandum of Understanding promotes a mobile workforce between our province and British Columbia, which provides our apprentices additional opportunities to gain valuable work experience. This partnership supports our provincial Population Growth Strategy, as it allows apprentices to avail of opportunities in other provinces work and gain the experience they need while residing and raising their families in Newfoundland and Labrador."
- The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

Through the MOU:

• Apprentices from both provinces will be able to record workplace skills and hours of employment completed to ensure they receive credit toward Journeyperson certification;
• Information will be shared in both provinces of employment opportunities;
• Recruitment will be facilitated for in-demand occupations;
• Both provinces will share labour market information such as workforce demand projections, initiatives to support sector-based workforce planning and best practices in labour market data analysis; and
• Both provinces are committed to supporting efforts to making it easier for skilled workers to find work across their respective jurisdictions.

"Improving labour mobility between provinces is essential to making it easier for skilled workers to secure employment and is a key way to ensuring Canadians have access to well-paying jobs. This Memorandum of Understanding supports our apprenticeship system and will mean more job opportunities, no disruption in accreditation and allows employers in both British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador to access a wider labour pool."
- The Honourable Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training

Improvements to labour mobility between the two provinces will be in place until a similar labour mobility agreement signed by Premiers at the Council of the Federation meetings on July 16, 2015 is implemented. Under the Provincial-Territorial Apprentice Mobility Protocol, by 2016, the training and hours successfully completed by apprentices in one jurisdiction will be recognized by all other jurisdictions across Canada.

Live Here, Work Here, Belong Here, A Population Growth Strategy for Newfoundland and Labrador, 2015-2025is the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's 10-year plan to support individuals and families. The strategy will ensure investments and programs are aligned to encourage individuals to choose Newfoundland and Labrador to live, work and raise a family. The Population Growth Strategy is supported by four action plans covering the main elements of population growth - Workforce Development; Families; Communities; and, Immigration. For more information, visit homeforgoodnl.ca/ .

QUICK FACTS

• The Governments of Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to improve labour mobility between the provinces for skilled workers.
• Effective immediately, the MOU ensures Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia apprentices, when working in either province, are offered equivalent work-based training and employment opportunities.
• Apprentices will be able to record workplace skills and hours of employment completed to ensure Newfoundland and Labrador and British Columbia apprentices receive credit toward Journeyperson certification.
• The Memorandum of Understanding ensures information is available to employers in both provinces about opportunities to employ workers from each province, and will facilitate recruitment for in-demand occupations.
• The MOU supports the provincial Population Growth Strategy. For more information, visit homeforgoodnl.ca/ .

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Media contacts:

John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

Media Relations Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Responsible for Labour 250-387-2799

2015 11 02                              1:15 p.m.