Certainly.
We do know there are job vacancy rates and shortages of qualified labour all across the country. From our business owners we are hearing that they are struggling to find workers in all regions. It's not just the typical western Canada success stories that we're hearing. It is also in areas of the country, in Atlantic Canada and in central Canada. We do believe there is a labour shortage. We're hearing that from our membership, from the small and medium-sized enterprise community telling us that.
With respect to using LMDA funds, I appreciate your comments. I think it's something we're trying to stuff a lot of programming into. When you actually talk to a small business owner they don't say, “Oh, yes. My employee is succeeding because they went to an LMDA-funded program, that led them to a provincial training program, that led them to me.” They're just pleased to have someone walk through their doors, who they need to then train. That's the key piece here. Training programs are important, and we support the literacy skills and some of the other programs for training for Canadians.
As our data shows, there is a significant amount of training that takes place on the job, regardless of what background or education you bring with you when you arrive at that position. It's important to think about that component.
In terms of mobility, it's a struggle in this country. The country is vast. When we're asking individuals to move across the country—a welder from Saskatchewan to move to Nova Scotia to take a position there—we don't necessarily see that kind of mobility happening in our country. I think that's why we have shortages across the country as we do.