A Portrait of Work-Related Learning in Quebec

Table 2.4
Participation rates in employer-sponsored job-related ALT, by organization size, in Canada and Quebec in 1997 and 2002 (employed population 25 years of age and older)
	1997		2002
	Canada	Quebec	Canada	Quebec
Source: Statistics Canada (2003), taken from Doray and Bélanger (2006).
^a Canada-Quebec difference significant to 0.01
Fewer than 20 employees	12^a	7^a	18^a	14^a
Between 20 and 99	20^a	16^a	25^a	20^a
100 to 499	30^a	23^a	31	30
500 or more	33^a	22^a	26	37
Total	23^a	16^a	26	25
	n=17,109	n=4,076	n=13,047	n=3,188

2.3.2 Structuring effects of Bill 90

The various surveys conducted of the qualitative effects of implementing the Act to foster the development of manpower training, which are echoed in the Five-Year Report, show that the impact has been significant at several levels. Thus, Béji, Fournier and Filteau (2004) note in the conclusion to their study "the positive impact that the provision of education and training under Bill 90 has had in improving the qualifications of employees and adapting them to the tasks they perform" (p. 193; transl.). Another study by Lesemann (2005) shows that Bill 90 has had "an effect on the deliberate and planned nature of this education and training" (p. 8; transl.). Although ALT was already very prominent in the firms examined, this author also notes an impact on future ALT projects.

Charest (2007b) contends that Bill 90 has had a structuring effect on the partnership itself, on the resulting organization (Figure 1.10) and on certain trade union practices: he notes that Bill 90 has had the effect of persuading unions to place greater emphasis on negotiating clauses concerning ALT in collective agreements.

Two other significant facts emerge from the analysis by Bélanger et al. (2004). The impact of Bill 90 tends to vary with firm size and area of activity, and is felt in the systematization of ALT activities in firms as much as in the increase in the amount of ALT activities. Bernier, Frappier and Moisan (2003) also indicate a structuring effect, more particularly in small and medium-sized companies. Béji et al. (2004), like Bélanger, Doray, et al. (2004), add that certain parameters, including the age of the employee, his or her status, seniority and income as well as the size of the company, may increase or reduce the chances of participating in ALT activities.