Montreal, February 8, 2022. –The Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration and minister responsible for the Mauricie region, Mr. Jean Boulet, announces financial assistance of $878,000 to Aéro Montréal for the launch of the pilot project Compétences PME, aimed at better talent management and optimal use of employees' skills to foster increased competitiveness of 60 participating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Montreal metropolitan area.
The project, which benefits from financial assistance from the Conseil emploi métropole (CEM), is carried out in collaboration with Montréal InVivo and Propulsion Québec, with the support of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal (CMM).
This initiative aims to address labour market issues by offering solutions to SMEs to, among other things, promote alignment between training, skills and employment as well as the implementation of succession planning in strategic sectors such as aerospace, life sciences and electric and intelligent transportation. Lasting 30 months, this pilot project will seek to diagnose the gap between the skills available within companies and their use in order to propose measures to optimize talent management. Ultimately, the goal is to describe this approach in order to measure its effects and showcase it to companies in other sectors.
Quotes
“In the current context of economic recovery, it is essential to encourage skills upgrading and workforce qualification. SMEs play an essential role as key employers in Quebec. This pilot project will help companies in Greater Montreal increase their competitiveness by integrating students into their workplace. It will also promote the establishment of a strong and qualified next generation in fields that will help maintain and increase the prominence of metropolitan expertise.”Jean Boulet, Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration and minister responsible for the Mauricie region.
“Economic recovery is well underway in the greater metropolitan area, but challenges remain, notably with regard to labour shortages. The Compétences PME pilot project will enable companies to develop new talent and achieve productivity gains. It will also help improve the quality of jobs offered and thus facilitate the attraction of workers, which is one of the important issues targeted in the work to implement the CMM’s Metropolitan Economic Development Plan 2022–2031, which will soon be the subject of a consultation.”Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal and President of the Communauté métropolitaine de Montréal.
“SMEs are at the heart of Quebec’s economy and, as our businesses begin to recover from the pandemic, they must at the same time cope with a significant labour shortage. That is why we are particularly proud to collaborate with our partners on this cross-cluster project, which will help identify opportunities for productivity gains, ensure a more optimal use of our valuable workplace talent and give new momentum to Quebec’s economy.”Suzanne M. Benoît, President and Chief Executive Officer of Aéro Montréal.
“Propulsion Québec is proud to be part of this multisectoral project to support Quebec companies in valuing and developing local talent. Our electric and intelligent transportation industry, which is rapidly emerging, intends to promote the productivity and skills of its workers so that they fully participate in the economic recovery effort and in achieving Quebec’s greenhouse gas reduction targets.”Sarah Houde, President and Chief Executive Officer of Propulsion Québec.
“In a context of pressure on talent availability, it is essential that our life sciences companies, both small and large, make the best use of the skills of their current employees. The project will not only involve a diagnosis carried out within our companies, but also the implementation of concrete actions within companies to optimize the use of their talent. That is exactly what they need!”Frank Béraud, President and Chief Executive Officer of Montréal InVivo.
“The CEM is proud to support this innovative initiative, which will help SMEs in Greater Montreal become more competitive by enabling them to focus on talent and skills upgrading. Through this intersectoral and concerted approach, these pivotal and excellent metropolitan sectors will be better able to meet the significant workforce challenges they face. They will thus help strengthen business productivity, a guarantor of Quebec’s economic vitality.”Audrey Murray, Chair of the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail and Chair of the Conseil emploi métropole.
Highlights
- This pilot project is part of the consensus reached during the Virtual Forum on Workforce Retraining and Employment, held in October 2020, which highlighted skills upgrading as one of the essential levers to accelerate return to work, develop employability and increase companies’ productivity.
- The CEM is the largest grouping of labour market representatives in the Montreal census metropolitan area. It advises the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail and the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity on major metropolitan employment issues. It aims in particular to promote a better alignment of training, skills and employment for the metropolis, in support of its sectors of excellence and its specific socioeconomic context.
- The financial assistance is provided under the Labour Market Development Fund, overseen by the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity.
- Support for human resources management responds to one of the objectives of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity’s 2019–2023 Strategic Plan, namely to further support businesses in adapting their practices. For more information on the activities of the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity.
Source:Maude Méthot-Faniel, Press Attaché Office of the Minister of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity, Minister of Immigration, Francization and Integration and minister responsible for the Mauricie region Tel.: 438 526-8750
Information:Media Relations Communications Directorate Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Solidarity Tel.: 418 643-9796
