SUFA Initiative (2002)

General Information

Department

Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)

Partners

Government of Newfoundland & Labrador

Effective Date

March 24, 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

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

Purpose

To give effect to Canada's and Newfoundland & Labrador's desire to work in concert in the design and management of Canada's employment benefits and support measures and in the operation of the National Employment Service, in a manner complementary to Newfoundland & Labrador's provincial employment programs, and thereby achieve a new cooperative partnership between the two levels of government that will meet the needs and circumstances of Newfoundland & Labrador.

Roles and Contributions

The roles and contributions of each party are described in the LMDA available via the web-site noted above.

Canada's Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSM) under Part II of the Employment Insurance (EI) Act are delivered through HRDC; however, partners to the agreement work in concert to enable a fully integrated provincial labour market development system.

Canada remains responsible for the implementation of activities under its employment benefits and support measures that are pan-Canadian in scope, such as activities in support of inter-provincial labour mobility and national sectoral partnerships, but will consult with Newfoundland & Labrador regarding the implementation of these activities that impact Newfoundland & Labrador.

Canada may also continue to act unilaterally in response to economic crises using funding incremental to funding commitments made within the context of the Agreement.

Canada also retains responsibility for Employment Insurance benefits under part I of the Act (passive support).

Resources

Funding

2002/03: $129,371,000 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 Interventions

The 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 Newfoundland & Labrador 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

The Employment Benefits and Support Measures available under Part II of the Employment Insurance Act are high-visibility programs and services. The network of Human Resource Centres of Canada therefore represents a well known feedback mechanism for the public.

Service Commitments

Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility criteria are contained in section 58 of the Employment Insurance Act 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/nfld/nfld1_e.html
• EBSM eligibility criteria are also available through contact with a Human Resource Centre of Canada (HRCC).

Existence and Availability of Service Commitments

HRDC's service commitments apply, as HRDC remains responsible for the delivery of the Employment Benefits and Support Measures under the LMDA.

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 of the Commission made in relation to employment benefits or support measures, are not subject to appeal.

Tracking and Public Reporting

N/A

Mobility

Existence of Measure

N/A