Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you for joining us today. I too am a newcomer and am interested in this.
Through the strategic training and transition fund, the government is increasing funding to provinces and territories for training and support measures that help individuals who do not qualify for EI training, including the self-employed. As we know, the self-employed are not all alike. Their needs vary and are more complex. This is a particularly important consideration when assessing the applicability of EI benefits for self-employed.
Under the labour market agreements signed with the provinces and territories, unemployed individuals who were previously self-employed are now eligible for support. Under the labour management agreement, Canada's government will invest $500 million annually over the next six years to increase the quantity and enhance the quality of Canada's labour force. These resources will be allocated to the provinces and the territories on an equal per capita basis. These investments will focus on supporting skills development for unemployed and low-skilled employed individuals who are not eligible for training assistance under the employment insurance program.
Because women make up a large percentage of self-employed workers, as we all know, can you explain some of the advantages of this program that are outlined just for women?