Provinces and territories to discuss federal counteroffer on Canada Job Grant

OTTAWA - Ontario says taking hundreds of millions of dollars from provincial and territorial job training programs is still a sticking point in talks over a contentious federal proposal.

The proposed Canada Job Grant is supposed to provide $15,000 grants to eligible workers, with the cost divided among Ottawa, the provinces and employers.

But the provinces have resisted, saying it would take drain hundreds of millions of dollars from existing provincially run programs while asking them to pony up even more money for matching funds.

Jason Kenney, the minister in charge of getting a deal with the provinces, has offered to cover their portion of the proposed grants.

But his Ontario counterpart Brad Duguid says while that covers the additional $300 million that the provinces would have to find, it would still take $300 million out of their existing programs.

The other provincial and territorial ministers are expected to weigh in during a conference call today to discuss a Kenney counterproposal.