1. 2018 ASPECT PRE-CONFERENCE WDA Programs Overview and Updates
Cordelia Williams
Acting Director, Program Design and Delivery Branch, Workforce Innovation & Division Responsible for Skills Training Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training
November 7, 2018

2. Workforce Development Agreement (WDA)
$685 Million over 6 years
Flexible
Reduced funding restrictions
Innovative program design and delivery
Extended contract length
Effective March 2018, the Workforce Development Agreement (WDA) negotiated between the Province of BC and Government of Canada replaces the Canada-BC Job Fund Agreement (CJF).
$685 million over six years for labour market programming in B.C.
Greater flexibility to design programming specific to B.C.’s unique, diverse needs and to serve clients based on their need
Minimal restrictions in the funding allocation model to allow for more effective funding distribution
An increased focus on innovative program design and delivery
An agreement in perpetuity rather than as a time-limited agreement.

3. Previous Programming
Over 18 months, stakeholder consultations informed the alignment of the WDA and BC’s programming to labour market needs
Employers
- Missing access to additional supports to hire and retain certain populations
- Specialized needs requiring in-house training
Clients
- Limited funding for vulnerable populations
- Funding not responsive to client need
Service Providers
- EI eligibility a barrier in recruiting and serving clients
- Programming unable to be reactive to urgent, emerging needs due to procurement process
-CCIS
Under our previous programming, the BC Canada Job Fund, employers did not have funding support to hire and retain certain populations. A change in the WDA programming addresses this point in two ways. 1) The WDA Agreement has specific focus on serving vulnerable populations (such as persons with disabilities, youth, multi-barriered clients, etc). 2) WDA funding to Employers is available for these populations
Also, some Employers faced specialized training needs that could only be address with in-house training – the WDA funding makes this type of training accessible to employers.
With regard to clients, as mentioned when speaking about Employers, the WDA is aligned to focus on the needs of vulnerable populations and creates opportunities for SPs to facilitate better supports and wrap-around services when serving clients, to aid them in achieving success in their training and employment outcomes.
For Service Providers we have planned the WDA programs to respond to the feedback we received over 18 months of consultation and roundtable feedback. We heard from you that 1) The previous funding model was not flexible enough to be able to individualize services and supports to clients that would result in best outcomes. 2) Like clients experienced, EI eligibility parameters were restrictive, making it difficult to recruit enough eligible participants to take part in your programs ) We heard that the design of CCIS sometimes made it difficult to report accurately, impacting program data quality.
Services are no longer based on EI eligibility
The WDA programming but the Sp is in charge of the client’s action plan and allows services to be reactive and delivered as needed. This holistic approach will lead to better outcomes for clients.

4. WDA Program Framework
Emphasizes linkages of skills training and employment supports to client needs and labour market demands
Multi-pronged approach to skills training and employment supports that will target British Columbians, employers, sectors and communities, including:
BC Employer Training Grant (BCETG)
Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG)
Skills Training for Employment (STE)

5. WDA Programs: BC Employer Training Grant
Assist employers to provide skills training to new or current employees to develop skills and certification, upgrade skills needed due to automation, and enhance skills and productivity.
Foundational: low-skilled current or future employees.
Technical Training: responds to automation and technological advancements, such as new software, technology or machinery.
Workforce Training: any training that aligns with an employer’s business needs
BCETG replaces the Canada-BC Job Grant.
The Foundational Stream supports low-skilled current or future employees. reimbursement of 100 percent of the eligible training costs, up to a maximum of $10,000 per participant.  No contribution is required from the employer. 
The Technical Training Stream supports employers to train current or new employees in technical skills in response to automation and technological advancements, such as new software, technology or machinery.
Approved applications for training under this stream will receive reimbursement of 80 percent of the eligible training costs, up to a maximum of $10,000 per participant. The employer is required to contribute the remaining 20 percent. 
Workforce TrainingThis stream is designed to support any training that aligns with an employer’s business needs. For example: advanced occupational training, leadership, management and soft skills training fall under this category. receive reimbursement of 60 percent of the eligible training costs up to a maximum of $5,000 per participant. The employer is required to contribute the remaining 40 percent. 

6. WDA Program: Community Workforce Response Grant
Provides flexible and timely responses to emerging and urgent labour and skills needs in B.C.’s communities and sectors.
Grants will support communities to develop workforce skills:
Emerging Priorities Stream
Indigenous Communities Stream
Workforce Shortages Stream
The CWRG will replace the Employer-Sponsored Training program and elements of the Canada-BC Job Grant.
Stream 1: The Emerging Priorities Stream supports communities undergoing a significant shift in the local labour market. Some reasons for the shift may be an industry closure or expansion, a natural disaster such as a forest fire or a flood, or other conditions that have impacted employment in the community.
Stream 2: The Indigenous Communities Stream provides funding to Indigenous communities so they can develop the skills people need for employment or self-employment.
Stream 3: The Workforce Shortages Stream supports sectors and industries in addressing immediate workforce shortages within the in-demand occupations. It provides funding for skills training and employment services for unemployed or underemployed British Columbians.
The maximum funding per application is $300,000. The maximum for each participant is $15,000 per fiscal year (April 1 to March 31).

7. WDA Programs: Skills Training for Employment
Focus on meeting needs of vulnerable and under-represented groups including:
Young Adults and Young Adults at Risk (including former youth in care);
Older Workers;
Survivors of Violence and/or Abuse;
Indigenous persons; and
Individuals who face Multiple Barriers to Employment
Clients will receive pre-employment, skills training and employment supports to obtain sustainable employment
STE will replaces the current Employment Services and Supports program
The Skills Training for Employment – replacing former ESS programming – will account for two-thirds of the WDA program budget.
We have designed these programs to be focused on client-need and outcomes, supported by training and wrap-around services not previously eligible to these populations.
We have removed EI eligibility and are turning our focus Essential Skills Training, Occupational Skills Training and support services to respond to community and labour market needs.
A change we have made is with regard to recognizing the importance of wrap-around services in ensuring client outcome success. The new funding model allows the Service Provider to select supports that are best fit for the client.
Procurement for these programs has begun – recently closed the Call for Response for the General Youth and Youth at Risk streams on Oct. 22 and are currently evaluating the Responses, with Contract Awards anticipated for the end of this year. Procurement for the other streams of funding will continue through 2019.

8. For more information Work BC BC Bid and BC Bid Resources
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