Various unemployed pilots across Canada have enquired about funding for training from EI or HRSDC. They have discovered that there is nothing available. There might be some funding available to someone who has a PPL for obtaining a CPL, ME and IR but that's where it stops. That is of no use to a pilot with those licences and ratings who has become unemployed.
If you already have a CPL with ME/IR there is nothing further available. There is no funding to maintain let alone improve your skills and qualifications. You cannot obtain funding to renew your IR or PPC. EI/HRSDC and their provincial agents do not recognise any need to maintain skills, the regulatory requirements for recency and currency or that an Instrument Rating is only valid for a certain length of time. Obtaining a Type Rating is not funded and such well known operations as Flight Safety International are not approved training organisations for federal or provincial funding for trainees.
The only funding available to unemployed pilots is for a change of occupation to something like Class A truck driver licence. EI/HRSDC also funds academic courses and trades at various colleges. It seems that funding is only available now to those who want to change careers. Where is the funding for those who want to stay in the same occupation but want to upgrade their qualifications and develop their skills to make themselves more employable? Where is the funding for those who need to maintain skills or who have qualifications such as an Instrument rating or PPC that have to be regularly renewed?
In the current recession EI/HRSDC should be doing all it can to help the increased numbers of unemployed get back to work. This is what the Skills Development part of HRSDC is supposed to be for. Presumably this should also apply to pilots.
In past threads on various forums posters have indicated that they or fellow pilots have received funding from EI/HRSDC for type ratings, etc. This is no longer available. Canadian pilots who lose their jobs are now on their own. There is no training or Skills Development assistance or funding available to pilots from federal or provincial EI or Skills Development programs. There is nothing available whether directly from EI, HRSDC or through the Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDA) with all provinces and territories.
Good luck to those pilots who are unemployed!
By the way, do pilots pay the same rates of EI contributions and taxes as those in other occupations?
Here are some past links. They indicate that funding used to be available.
AVCANADA • View topic - HRDC funding? How to get it? How much $$$$???
AVCANADA • View topic - Funding a rating with EI
AVCANADA • View topic - Service Canada (EI) Funded Type Ratings?
AVCANADA • View topic - EI May Help