39. We recommend that training programs be made more accessible, regardless of income support that candidates receive. Systemic barriers -- for women, aboriginal peoples, people with disabilities, members of visible minorities, and those with low levels of education -- should be removed. To improve access to training, we recommend that:

• eligibility criteria for training programs be reviewed and unnecessary impediments removed,
• counselling be available to all in need,
• scheduling of training be more flexible, and
• training be delivered in a variety of modes to meet the diverse needs of the community.
  
  
  

Financial support for training

A solid funding base is required for a high-quality training system. The structure of the current funding system prevents access by many people in desperate need of training or retraining.

Public training providers require stable funding for developing and delivering new and existing curricula, programs, and support services, as proposed in our previous recommendations.

We are concerned about the reduction in training funds originating from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the government's emphasis on training UI recipients through the UIDU (Figure 19). As a result, many people have lost access to training.