Consultation and Engagement
Through consultation and engagement activities, the Department gains a greater understanding of the perspectives of a wide range of citizens, stakeholders, and experts. This understanding helps the Department to develop better, more informed and more effective policies and programs for Canadians.
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Current and Upcoming Consultations
Seeking views from key stakeholders on continued enhancements to youth.gc.ca
- Start date:
- January 2012
- End date:
- March 2012
- Department:
- HRSDC – Service Canada
- Open to:
- Invited representatives from: academia; apprenticeship; community and youth organizations; provincial/territorial ministries responsible for employment and Official Language Minority Community organizations
- Contact:
- For more information contact Partnerships and Service Offerings at NC-ENGA_SERV_YOUTH-CONS_SERV_JEUNES@servicecanada.gc.ca.
Service Canada will be engaging with key stakeholders in winter 2012 to seek out their views on the continued enhancements to the Government’s main website for youth, youth.gc.ca. Through enhancements to the site, the Government is improving the way it does business to better address the needs of today’s youth, including helping them prepare for, find and maintain meaningful employment.
News Release- Seeking views from key stakeholders on continued enhancements to youth.gc.ca
Pre-budget consultations
- Start date:
- January 2012
- End date:
- February 2012
- Department:
- HRSDC
- Open to
- Invited representatives from business, academia, industry, sectorial leaders and other organizations
The Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, the Minister of State (Seniors) and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister will be holding cross-country consultations to discuss how best to ensure Canada’s economy continues to produce jobs and growth in a difficult global economy.
In order to ensure that all Canadians can participate in this process, the Government of Canada has also launched an online pre-budget consultation. Those wishing to make submissions can do so by visiting Finance's Consulting with Canadians page.
Past Consultations
Employment Insurance Rate-Setting Consultations
- Start date:
- August 18, 2011
- End date:
- November 30, 2011
- Department:
- HRSDC
- Who attended:
- The public and invited key stakeholders and experts.
The parliamentary secretaries to the ministers of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada and Finance Canada jointly consulted on how the Employment Insurance rate-setting mechanism can be further improved to ensure more stable and predictable rates. The in-person and online consultations were held from August 18 to November 30, 2011.
News Release- Government Launches Employment Insurance Rate-Setting Consultations | Consultation Paper- Employment Insurance Premium Rate Setting
Elder Abuse and Financial Abuse of Seniors
- Start Date:
- November 7, 2011
- End Date:
- November 24, 2011
- Department:
- HRSDC
- Who attended:
- Invited participants of seniors’ and other organizations.
The Minister of State (Seniors) held consultations in Edmonton, November 7, 2011, Calgary, November 8, 2011, Vancouver, November 9, and Ottawa, November 24, 2011, to address elder abuse and financial abuse. More information on elder abuse is available on the Seniors website.
News Release - Government of Canada Marks National Senior Safety Week | Photo Gallery - The Honourable Alice Wong
Consultations on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
In October 2011, the ministers of Human Resources and Skills Development and Citizenship and Immigration held joint consultations in Calgary on hiring temporary foreign workers. Invited participants included employers from the oil and gas, construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors. More information is available in the news release - Consultation sessions on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program announced for October.
Consultations on a New Approach to Address Skills Shortages
From September 26 to October 12, 2011, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada held consultations on a new approach to address skills shortages. This new approach will focus on developing sector-specific labour market intelligence, national occupational standards, and certification/accreditation regimes in key economic sectors through a competitive call for proposals. Participants included representatives from educational institutions, industry associations, businesses and labour groups. More information on the new approach is available in the news release - The Government of Canada announces a new approach to address skills shortages.
Labour Market Participation of People with Disabilities: Regional Roundtable in Burnaby, British Columbia
- Start date:
- August 9, 2011
- End date:
- August 9, 2011
- Department:
- HRSDC
- Who attended:
- Invited community organizations working with people with disabilities in the Vancouver area.
The Minister of State (Seniors), Alice Wong, met with community stakeholders in Burnaby on August 9, 2011, to discuss local challenges that people with disabilities face in the Vancouver area and creative local solutions. More specifically, the Minister of State (Seniors) asked participants about government programs and services, best practices, and emerging or continuing challenges for people with disabilities, and for comments on the federal role in the labour market integration of people with disabilities.
National Seniors Council Held Roundtable Discussions on Issues Facing an Aging Population
From October 2010 to February 2011, the Minister of State (Seniors) and the National Seniors Council hosted regional roundtables with stakeholders to discuss issues related to labour force participation among seniors and near seniors, and intergenerational relations.
- News release - Ottawa, Ontario - Government of Canada and National Seniors Council hold national roundtable
- News release - Montreal, Quebec - Government of Canada and National Seniors Council Hold Roundtable
- News release - Halifax, Nova Scotia - Government of Canada and National Seniors Council Hold Roundtable
- News release - Calgary, Alberta - Government of Canada and National Seniors Council hold roundtable
- News release - Toronto, Ontario - Government of Canada and National Seniors Council hold roundtable
- News release - Victoria, British Columbia - Government of Canada and National Seniors Council hold roundtable
Cross-Canada Consultations on Labour Issues
From July 2010 to August 2010, the Honourable Lisa Raitt, Minister of Labour, hosted cross-Canada roundtables with representatives from the business, labour and academia sectors to discuss issues relating to employment equity, occupational health and safety and labour management relations.
- News release - Ottawa, Ontario - Minister Raitt completes consultations in British Columbia
- News release - Vancouver, British Columbia - Minister Raitt meets with key stakeholders to discuss emerging labour issues
- News release - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - Minister Raitt Holds Roundtable with Canadian Port Authorities
- News release - St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador - Minister Raitt Meets with Stakeholders in Newfoundland and Labrador
- News release - Toronto, Ontario - Minister Raitt Meets with Stakeholders in Toronto
- News release - Toronto, Ontario - Minister Raitt Holds Workplace Safety Roundtable in Toronto
Consultation on Jobs and the Economy
On January 20, 2011, the Honorable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, met with small business owners and working families in Vancouver to discuss ways to create even more jobs and economic growth, as part of the next phase of Canada's Economic Action Plan.