Preventing excessive displacements and early intervention policies in Canada

This chapter describes and assesses the most important programmes that take effect before workers are dismissed. Measures to prevent excessive job displacements are discussed first, including measures to anticipate restructuring or future changes in the labour market the rules governing hiring and firing of workers and the use of Short-Time Work schemes. The chapter then discusses the role of private and public early interventions that provide workers who will be displaced with an early start at finding a suitable new job. Overall provincial governments provide sound re-employment support to workers affected by mass layoffs that is tailored to this group’s specific needs as soon as they are laid-off. This assistance plays a useful role but needs to be reinforced so as to start the adjustment process earlier for workers receiving advance notice or a large severance payment and to reach workers affected by small-scale displacements.