Human Resources 101

From the 2007 Alberta Provincial Budget:

Workforce training and support

In addition to supporting post-secondary students, Budget 2007 boosts spending on workforce training and supports. More than $41 million for workforce development and workplace programs has been added to Employment, Immigration and Industry’s budget to meet the needs of our growing population.

“Alberta’s economic success depends on our ability to attract, develop and retain a capable labour force,” said Iris Evans, Minister of Employment, Immigration and Industry. “Our investments in training and support reflect this government’s priority of addressing growth pressures and helping Albertans and immigrants participate fully in our workforce.”

This year’s increases to support Alberta’s labour force include:

* $30 million to implement Health Workforce Plan strategies to help address Alberta’s workforce pressures by supporting the recruitment, retention and repatriation of health care workers
* $2 million increase for programs to help Aboriginal people become connected to the workforce
* $2 million increase for English as an Additional Language training and bridging programs to help immigrants become attached to the labour force

This budget also invests an additional $7 million in workplace programs that boost investments in workplace health and safety, and labour standards programs and supports.

An additional $16 million will go to Children’s Services to help ensure parents who want to work or continue working have access to affordable, quality child care options. This brings total funding for child care to
$134 million, an increase of 14 per cent compared to 2006-07. The boost will be used to create more
child care spaces, recruit and retain staff, make child care more affordable and address specific pressures in the Fort McMurray area.

“This investment will help address the need to create more child care spaces and decrease some of the pressure parents, who choose to work or go to school, are feeling when looking for quality child care options,” said Janis Tarchuk, Minister of Children’s Services.

Key investments in education, training and workforce development aim to address Alberta’s labour force pressures.