The nation’s provinces and territories are ready with a new counterproposal to Ottawa’s controversial Canada Job Grant training program.

Training Colleges and Universities Minister Brad Duguid said Wednesday that there is still unified opposition across the country to the federal government’s scheme.

“We’re on the verge of something that is bordering on an historic, united alliance across the country that remains absolutely solid despite very different, very diverse labour markets,” said Duguid.

“We’ve put together a proposal that is blindingly reasonable and fair for Canadians, for businesses, for provinces and territories, and for the federal government,” he said.

Duguid, who declined to discuss details until it is presented to federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney in coming days, said the provincial-territorial plan “fixes some of the weaknesses in the original, poorly thought-through proposal.”

“It ensures that we move completely away from the demand that we fund this program on the backs of our vulnerable, marginalized, out-of-work Canadians,” the Ontario minister said.

“We should be able to move the federal government from that bizarre position. It’s our second alternative proposal that we will be presenting to Minister Kenney very soon,” he said.

“If the federal government does not provide a positive response to what I think is a very reasonable proposal, then it’s obvious that their agenda is something other than providing the best possible programs for Ontarians.”

Kenney has shown flexibility in dealing with the provinces since taking over the tricky file last July.

“We have not yet received a counterproposal from the provinces,” said Nick Koolsbergen, his director of communications.

“The federal government has listened to provinces’ concerns and significantly restructured the offer based on their feedback,” added Koolsbergen.

“We are hopeful that an agreement can be reached on the Canada Job Grant, to ensure skills training actually leads to a guaranteed job and employers are putting more money into equipping Canadians for available jobs.”

Under Ottawa’s current scheme, Duguid warned Ontario would lose $116 million over three years in transfer payments from the federal government.

He said that money is used to train people who do not quality for Employment Insurance, including new Canadians, youth, First Nations workers and the disabled.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government has hoped to launch the Canada Job Grant on April 1, but the premiers have strongly opposed it.

The provincial and territorial leaders were upset because it would eventually be funded with $300 million of the $500 million a year Ottawa currently sends to them under labour market agreements that are soon to expire.

Originally, businesses planning to train a Canadian worker would receive a $15,000 grant with the funding divided equally among Ottawa, the employer and the province or territory where the business is located.

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When that didn’t fly, Kenney then proposed $10,000 per worker in federal funds with the provinces not being forced to contribute.

Ottawa wants employers to play a role in training workers and ensure that that leads to permanent jobs.

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