Mandatory Entry Level Training (MELT) is required for individuals wanting to obtain a Class 1 license for trucks. Previously, farmers would have been eligible for funding to help upskill their employees under the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant.
Colin Hornby, General Manager of Keystone Agricultural Producers, said that program has since been changed into something else, but there are still funding options for farmers.
"The program that funded MELT, which is Mandatory Entry Level Training farmers use for getting Class 1 training, Class 1 licenses, was previously under the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant, however that program was discontinued and changed into something called the Canada-Manitoba Workforce Tarrif Response Program," said Hornby.
According to the Province, the new program is designed to support workers, businesses, and communities directly and indirectly impacted by tariffs, including steel, softwood lumber, and other sectors. Hornby said the new program had some vague wording when it came to MELT funding in relation to agriculture, so after working with the Province, they've sorted out their concerns.
"We went and communicated with the Province over a few weeks to try to get clarity, and I think they made some tweaks, and they made sure that the language is changed so that it was clear, because initially it didn't appear that MELT was eligible under the new funding programs, but we were able to get them to change some of the wording and clarify," said Hornby.
There's also another program that can help give farmers funding to upskill their employees: the Building Up Manitoba Program, or BUMP. This program is designed for small and medium sized employers.
Hornby said both of the programs are usually popular, and recommends anyone interested to apply sooner rather than later.
"It's an important program that has a lot of uptake, and this money disappears pretty quickly when people apply, because it's not just for ag, it's sort of economy wide," said Hornby.
The Province says the Canada-Manitoba Workforce Tarrif Response Program was developed with partnership from the Government of Canada, through a three year, $18.2 million investment.
