Question Period Note: FEDERAL SUPPORT FOR TRAINING PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS

The shortage of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in the long-term and home care systems has been a growing issue for several years, particularly in the context of an aging population. During the pandemic, long-term care facilities faced critical workforce shortages due to the high rate of COVID-19 in these centres, as well as staff illness and absences.

• The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the acute need for Personal Support Workers in long-term care, home care and assisted-living services.

• The federal government is taking concrete steps to respond to the significant challenges faced by long-term care facilities across the country.

• As announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada is funding a $38.5 million pilot project to address acute labour shortages in long-term and home care.

• This funding is being used to recruit and train up to 2,600 new Supportive Care Assistants through an accelerated online training and hands-on work placement.

• It is anticipated that the pilot will also support up to 1,300 of these Supportive Care Assistants to pursue full Personal Support Worker certification.

• Budget 2021 also announced $960 million over three years, beginning in 2021-22, for a new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program to help key sectors of the economy—including the health sector—implement solutions to address current and emerging workforce needs. A call for proposals was launched on January 31, 2022 and organizations have until March 18, 2022 to apply for funding.

The shortage of Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in long-term and home care facilities has been a growing issue for several years and has been exacerbated by the pandemic. Workplace and workforce challenges (e.g., low pay and benefits, challenging work conditions, irregular work hours, and low public perception of the occupation) significantly hamper retention and recruitment. Studies show that 40% of students that complete their training never start a career as a PSW.

The primary responsibility for the provision and delivery of health care services, including long-term care, falls under the purview of the provinces and territories (PTs). Since PSWs are unregulated in the majority of PTs in Canada, certification and requirements differ by jurisdiction, as well as levels of education and training.

As announced in the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, ESDC is funding a $38.5M pilot project to help address labour shortages in long-term and home care.

The Long-Term and Home Care pilot project launched in December 2020 and recently extended to March 31, 2024, will:
• test a new recruitment and training model for Supportive Care Assistants through an accelerated 6-week online training program, followed by a paid work placement (up to 4 months);
• develop a career advancement pathway to assist new workers to upgrade their micro-credential to a full PSW certificate; and
• explore how to improve consistency in PSW training programs, required qualifications, and core competencies, with the goal of developing a proposed competency framework and National Occupational Standard.

As of February 10, 2022, there were over 1,300 reserved seats for the pilot project, with almost 500 students in online training.

In addition, Budget 2021 announced $960 million over three years, for the new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program (SWSP) to help key sectors of the economy implement solutions to address current and emerging workforce needs.

The SWSP is a contributions program that will fund sectoral projects that support workers and employers through a wide-range of activities:
• Training and reskilling to help workers gain new skills to meet the needs of employers and transition to in-demand jobs in key sectors.
• Helping employers, in particular small and medium-sized businesses, attract and retain a skilled and innovative workforce.
• Initiatives to help equity-deserving groups get the skills they need to find work and succeed in key sectors.
• Other creative solutions, standards and tools to address sectoral labour market needs.

The SWSP launched a call for proposals on January 31, 2022 and organizations have until March 18, 2022 to apply for funding. Organizations involved in long-term care could submit projects that provide training and upskilling opportunities to help address acute PSW shortages.

While the Government of Canada recognizes provincial and territorial jurisdiction in this sector, it can play an important convening role in bringing all parties together to help reduce the variability in PSW training and certification requirements across Canada. These initiatives are meant to supplement, not duplicate, provincial or territorial efforts already underway in the supportive care sector.

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