Youth Employment Voices From Across Canada
Service Canada Working Group
December 3, 2010
First Work and Service Canada's inaugural Working Group meeting was recently held on November 17th, 2010. The Working Group's mandate is to generate increased clarity to issues and observations raised by First Work members with regards to the Skills Link program with the ultimate goal of reducing administrative issues, identifying actionable recommendations and maintaining clear communications linkages. We've made a lot of progress in this first meeting, and will continue to work towards achieving our members' goals and developing a strong understanding of the Federal Government's Youth Employment Strategy and its delivery mechanisms and requirements.
Promising Approaches
In response to members' issues raised and presented, Service Canada demonstrated their commitment to the Working Group's mandate and advised of the move towards multi-year agreements, as opposed to the familiar yearly application process system currently in place. This modification will help simplify negotiations and staffing continuity issues. In addition and whenever possible, Service Canada will endeavour to transition Project Officers who administer and monitor files to the role of assessor and negotiator allowing the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge of individual agreements. In addition and in support of developing community and member awareness, Project Officers are being encouraged to visit and to familiarize themselves with the local labour market conditions and members delivery challenges.
Service Canada confirmed that they are aware of economic and demographic changes which have created some challenges for members in recruiting a minimum of 90% non-high school completers. In response to those challenges Service Canada has provided flexibilities in participant recruitment and may consider a 70% non-high school completion ratio. This will allow for a greater number of multi-barriered youth who have graduated secondary school to access programs. These flexibilities are being provided in direct relationship to the current economic environment and will be analyzed moving forward. Adjustments to the allowable percentages will be communicated in a timely manner through future Working Group meetings and member bulletins.
Another topic that was discussed was the desire for sponsors to have overlapping agreements. We have been advised there is no specific guideline to prevent overlapping agreements however; strict adherence to ensure there is no duplication of costs, or the splitting of activities for convenience where overlapping delivery models are being proposed. Each application or proposal containing potential overlapping delivery models will be assessed on its own merit.
We have been advised approval timelines are planned and coordinated to optimize the requested start and end dates however, may vary depending on the complexities of activities.
Other items discussed included rationalizing central administration costs, travel costs, and the challenges involved with leases and sub-leases. Reference material guides to assist in understanding and differentiating the intricacies of topic such as those mentioned above will be developed. First Work members are asked to continue contributing specific information and examples to help in the development of this reference material guide.
Moving Forward
The Working Group is bringing forward these specific recommendations most of which are being acknowledged and actioned by a responsive Service Canada, implemented in a timely manner and will continue to be discussed at the next quarterly meeting, being held in February 2011. The Working Group will meet as needed after this point and will continue to bring forward proposals to the quarterly meetings.
Please contact your regional representative if you would like to continue to provide your input for future Service Canada Working Group meetings. We will keep you updated as further information becomes available.
To get First Work updates emailed to your Inbox, visit our website and sign up for the First Work Bulletin.
First Work and Service Canada's inaugural Working Group meeting was recently held on November 17th, 2010. The Working Group's mandate is to generate increased clarity to issues and observations raised by First Work members with regards to the Skills Link program with the ultimate goal of reducing administrative issues, identifying actionable recommendations and maintaining clear communications linkages. We've made a lot of progress in this first meeting, and will continue to work towards achieving our members' goals and developing a strong understanding of the Federal Government's Youth Employment Strategy and its delivery mechanisms and requirements.
Promising Approaches
In response to members' issues raised and presented, Service Canada demonstrated their commitment to the Working Group's mandate and advised of the move towards multi-year agreements, as opposed to the familiar yearly application process system currently in place. This modification will help simplify negotiations and staffing continuity issues. In addition and whenever possible, Service Canada will endeavour to transition Project Officers who administer and monitor files to the role of assessor and negotiator allowing the opportunity to apply acquired knowledge of individual agreements. In addition and in support of developing community and member awareness, Project Officers are being encouraged to visit and to familiarize themselves with the local labour market conditions and members delivery challenges.
Service Canada confirmed that they are aware of economic and demographic changes which have created some challenges for members in recruiting a minimum of 90% non-high school completers. In response to those challenges Service Canada has provided flexibilities in participant recruitment and may consider a 70% non-high school completion ratio. This will allow for a greater number of multi-barriered youth who have graduated secondary school to access programs. These flexibilities are being provided in direct relationship to the current economic environment and will be analyzed moving forward. Adjustments to the allowable percentages will be communicated in a timely manner through future Working Group meetings and member bulletins.
Another topic that was discussed was the desire for sponsors to have overlapping agreements. We have been advised there is no specific guideline to prevent overlapping agreements however; strict adherence to ensure there is no duplication of costs, or the splitting of activities for convenience where overlapping delivery models are being proposed. Each application or proposal containing potential overlapping delivery models will be assessed on its own merit.
We have been advised approval timelines are planned and coordinated to optimize the requested start and end dates however, may vary depending on the complexities of activities.
Other items discussed included rationalizing central administration costs, travel costs, and the challenges involved with leases and sub-leases. Reference material guides to assist in understanding and differentiating the intricacies of topic such as those mentioned above will be developed. First Work members are asked to continue contributing specific information and examples to help in the development of this reference material guide.
Moving Forward
The Working Group is bringing forward these specific recommendations most of which are being acknowledged and actioned by a responsive Service Canada, implemented in a timely manner and will continue to be discussed at the next quarterly meeting, being held in February 2011. The Working Group will meet as needed after this point and will continue to bring forward proposals to the quarterly meetings.
Please contact your regional representative if you would like to continue to provide your input for future Service Canada Working Group meetings. We will keep you updated as further information becomes available.
To get First Work updates emailed to your Inbox, visit our website and sign up for the First Work Bulletin.
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