SUFA Initiative (2002)

General Information

Department

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)

Partners

Government of New Brunswick

Effective Date

April 1, 1997

Expiry Date

None. Labour Market Development Agreements are indeterminate agreements and are not subject to renewal. The agreement contains provisions for either party to give notice of termination.

Web Site

www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ei/lma/nb/nbagre_e.html

Purpose

To implement, within the framework and authority of Part II of the Employment Insurance (EI) Act, new Canada-New Brunswick arrangements in the area of labour market development that will enable New Brunswick to assume an expanded role in the design and delivery of labour market development programs and services in New Brunswick.

Roles and Contributions

The roles and contributions of each party are described in the LMDA available via the web-site noted above. New Brunswick agrees to give public recognition of Canada's role in providing financial assistance under this Agreement to support the provincial benefits and measures.

New Brunswick designs and implements benefits and measures and uses contribution funds provided to it under the agreement to support their costs, as long as they are similar to the employment benefits and support measures under Part II of the Employment Insurance Act and are consistent with the purpose and guidelines of Part II.

Canada retains responsibility for the delivery of insurance benefits under Part I of the Employment Insurance Act and for the aspects of labour market development reflective of national interests such as but not limited to activities in support of interprovincial labour mobility, the promotion and support of national sector councils, the operation of national labour market information and national labour exchange systems, and the provision of support for labour market research and innovative projects designed to test new approaches to improving the functioning of the labour market in Canada.

Resources

Funding

2002/03: $ 91,235,000 confirmed allocation

Tracking and Reporting

The Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report is available at: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/loi-law/eimar.shtml. Chapter 3 covers Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSM) and the Labour Market Development Agreements under which these are funded and delivered.

Measurement and Reporting

Outcomes

A joint accountability framework is included in the provisions of the LMDA.

Outputs:

The number of clients served by client type:

• Active EI Claimants,
• Former Claimants
• Non-insured clients

The number of new interventions:· Long-term Interventions:· Short-term InterventionsThe Ratio of designated groups in total clients served:

• Persons with Disabilities
• Women
• Visible Minorities, and
• Aboriginals

Short term outcomes are reported annually as key indicators:

• Clients returned to employment, and
• Unpaid EI Benefits (savings realized because of clients returning to work prior to exhausting their EI benefits claim).

The outputs and short term outcomes are reported annually in the Monitoring and Assessment Report, which can be found on the following web site: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/loi-law/eimar.shtml

Longer-term Outcomes:

Individual Clients Assisted:

• Change in total hours worked
• Change in earnings
• % participants who worked
• % weeks worked
• EI Benefits collected
• Geographic Mobility/ relocation of worker clients
• Change in labour market participation by client group (i.e. equity groups, displaced workers, educational level).

The longer-term outcomes will be addressed in the Summative evaluations.

Indicators

Key indicators include: Employment Insurance clients served, Clients who return to work, and potential Unpaid Employment Insurance Benefits, resulting from clients returning to work prior to exhausting their EI benefits claim.

Client participation and key results indicators are tracked internally on a monthly basis.

Comparable Indicators

A Medium Term Indicators pilot project is being implemented in Alberta and British Columbia to test the feasibility of using administrative data along with new comparison group design methods to measure the impact of programs and services over the medium term (1-3 years).

Evaluation / Thrid Party Assessments

The agreement provides for periodic evaluations of its provisions and of the programs and services delivered under its auspices. These evaluations are coordinated by a joint evaluation committee with representation from both parties.

Evaluation reports are posted on the following web site: http://www11.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/pls/edd/lmda.main

Shared Information and Best Practices

An LMDA Working Group comprised of representatives from each regional office and NHQ shares information and best practices during regular conference calls and at annual conferences.

Public Reporting

The Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report is available at: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/loi-law/eimar.shtml. Chapter 3 covers Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSM) and the Labour Market Development Agreements under which these are delivered.

Involving Canadians

Provisions for Citizens to Participate in Developing Social Priorities and Reviewing Outcomes

Canadians are involved in the Labour Market Development Agreement through the regular evaluation process – through client surveys and third party evaluations.

Feedback Mechanisms to the Public

http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/common/contct.shtml

Service Commitments

Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria

Programs and services delivered under the Canada-New Brunswick LMDA are provincial programs. In order for the programs to be funded under the LMDA, the eligibility criteria in section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act must be respected. The EI Act is available at: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ae-ei/loi-law/ei_act_entry_page.shtml. Other site with the eligibility criteria:

• http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ei/lma/nb/nb2_e.html

Existence and Availability of Service Commitments

In the LMDA, the parties agree that in the administration of the provincial benefits and measures and in carrying out the functions of the National Employment Service, New Brunswick will be guided by the following principles on service to clients:

• provide convenient access to programs and services
• provide courteous, empathetic and timely service
• provide flexible and innovative approaches to labour market and community needs
• optimize individual potential and human dignity, and
• achieve measurable results within a well-defined framework of accountability.

The service commitments can be found on the following web site: http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ei/lma/nb/nb4_e.html#200

Measurement and Public Reporting

Client satisfaction with services received is measured through the regular evaluation process. Findings of evaluations are included in the Employment Insurance Monitoring and Assessment Report.

Appeals and Complaints

Existence, Availability and Communication of Mechanisms

Under section 64 of the Employment Insurance Act, decisions made in relation to employment benefits or support measures, are not subject to appeal.

Tracking and Public Reporting

N/A

Mobility

Existence of Measure

The Canada – New Brunswick LMDA specifies that New Brunswick shall not require any residency requirement for an individual to receive financial assistance under a provincial benefit or measure.