Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2007, published 97th ILC session (2008)

Employment Policy Convention, 1964 (No. 122) - Canada (Ratification: 1966)

The Committee notes the comprehensive information provided in the Government’s report for the period ending in May 2007, as well as the information provided by the provincial governments and detailed replies to the matters raised in its previous direct request.

1. Employment trends and active labour market policies. The Government indicates that its economy grew at a solid pace throughout 2005 and early 2006 while experiencing slower growth the rest of the year due to the appreciation of the Canadian dollar, a weaker US demand and a cooling of the housing market. The Canadian economy has created over 540,000 new jobs since the beginning of 2006 and the unemployment rate was measured at 6.1 per cent, a 32-year low, the same period at which the labour force participation rate set a record high. The Government indicates that the expected growth is measured at 2.5 per cent for 2007 and 2.7 per cent for 2008 due, in part, to strong job growth and low interest rates. The 2006 and 2007 budgets focused on creating competitive advantages for the country. Measures taken in these budgets aimed specifically at sustaining economic growth and creating jobs including additional funding to post-secondary education, to science and research institutions, as well as new funding to provide labour market training. Other notable measures include tax deductions to recognize employment-related expenses, tax benefits such as the Working Income Tax Benefit (WITB) to help people over the welfare wall and measures to encourage apprenticeships in the skilled trades. The Committee welcomes the creation of the Pan Canadian Innovations Initiative (PCII) which has a purpose to test and inform the development of policies, programmes and practices designed to help Canadians prepare for, obtain or maintain employment and be productive participants in the labour force. The Committee notes with interest the performance of the Canadian economy and sustained job growth. It asks the Government to provide evaluation data on the PCII when it becomes available. The Committee asks the Government to continue to report on the manner in which measures adopted under the general economic policy contribute “within the framework of a coordinated economic and social policy” (Article 2(a) of the Convention) to pursuing “as a major goal” (Article 1, paragraph 1) the objective of full, productive and freely chosen employment. It would also appreciate continuing to receive information and data on successes, problems encountered and lessons learned, both at the federal and provincial levels, from the experience of the relevant authorities and social partners in Canada with regard to the application of the provisions of the Convention.

2. Means to promote employment of workers with disabilities and other vulnerable categories of workers. The Government notes that the Working Income Tax Benefit provides for an additional supplement to low-income workers with disabilities. The report also indicates a wide array of labour market initiatives benefiting persons with disabilities at the federal and provincial levels. As for older workers, the Government indicates that it has implemented a Targeted Initiative for Older Workers that will allocate 66 million CAD over the next three years in order to respond to the immediate needs of this group by reintegrating them into employment. The Committee notes these initiatives with interest and requests the Government to provide further information on their impact, especially in regard to provincial strategies such as the “10 by 10 Challenge” launched in British Columbia for workers with disabilities. The Committee also asks the Government to provide information on the measures taken or envisaged to increase the employment levels of other vulnerable categories of workers such as newly arrived immigrants in Quebec and in other provinces.