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Liberals announce partners that will run arm’s length skills development agency

Feb 14, 2019 | 10:32 AM

OTTAWA — The federal Liberal government has named Ryerson University, The Conference Board of Canada and Blueprint ADE to run its new “Future Skills Centre” job training agency.

The Liberals have committed $225 million over four years for the arm’s-length agency, starting this fiscal year, and $75 million annually in subsequent years.

The government says the agency’s goal is to help workers make informed decisions about the changing work environment and to develop the in-demand skills they’ll need to land and maintain quality jobs. 

The centre will be based at Toronto’s Ryerson University and will fund projects across the country that develop and test new approaches to skills development.

The agency will partner on projects led by provincial and territorial governments, Indigenous governments and for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.

The government has also announced the 15 members of its “Future Skills Council,” which will share information with Labour Minister Patty Hajdu on new skills and workforce trends, including national and regional issues.

The Conference Board is a think-tank that specializes in economic and public policy issues and Blueprint describes itself as a non-profit research organization dedicated to improving the social and economic well-being of individuals, families and communities.

The Canadian Press

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