SUFA Initiative (2001)

Canada-Manitoba Agreement on Labour Market Development (LMDA)

General Information
Lead Department	Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC)
Partners	Government of Manitoba
Effective Date	November 27, 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.
Website(s)	http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ei/lma/mb/maagre_e.html
Purpose	To implement, within the scope of Part II of Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) Act, new Canada-Manitoba arrangements respecting labour market development that will enable Manitoba to assume an expanded role in designing and delivering labour market development programs and services in Manitoba.
Roles and Contributions	The roles and contributions of each party are described in the LMDA available via the web-site noted above. Manitoba designs, develops, and delivers provincial benefits and provincial measures similar to employment benefits and support measures established by Employment Insurance Commission and consistent with the purpose and guidelines of Part II of the EI Act. Canada retains responsibility for the delivery of insurance benefits under Part I of the Employment Insurance Act and for the national aspects of labour market development such as, but not limited to, activities which promote and support interprovincial mobility, national sector councils, labour market research and innovative projects which test new approaches to improving the functioning of the Canadian labour market and the operation of national labour market information and national labour exchange systems.

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Resources
Funding	2001/02: $ 49,521,000 confirmed allocation 2002/03: $ 49,126,000 projected 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.

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Measurement and Reporting
Outcomes / Outputs	Reduced dependency of individuals on government assistance Increased cooperation and partnership of labour market partners Reduced overlap and duplication in labour market programming A joint accountability framework is included in the provisions of the LMDA.
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 project is being implemented that will measure longer-term and incremental results of participation in programs and services. The indicators and the methodology for their tracking have yet to be determined.
Evaluation/Third 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.
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.

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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.gc.ca/hrib/ebsm-pems/menu/contactus.shtml

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Service Commitments
Public Availability of Eligibility Criteria	Programs and services delivered under the Canada-Manitoba 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 sites with the eligibility criteria: http://www.hrdc.gc.ca/hrib/ebsm-pems/menu/programs.shtml http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca/ei/lma/mb/maagre_e.html
Existence and Availability of Service Commitments	In the LMDA, the parties agree that in the administration of the provincial programs and in carrying out the functions of the National Employment Service, Manitoba will be guided by the following principles respecting services to clients: provide convenient access to provincial benefits and provincial measures provide timely service and complete information on the nature of provincial benefits and provincial measures service should be delivered in a manner which demonstrates responsiveness to client and community needs, flexibility and innovation service delivery results should be measurable, verifiable and transparent service delivery should foster client commitment to achieving self reliance through sustainable employment.
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.

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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	Not applicable1

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Mobility
Existence of Measures	Not applicable1