"Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) worked jointly with 12 Provinces and Territories (P/Ts) to undertake the 2012-2017 second cycle for the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) evaluation. The first cycle of LMDA evaluation was carried out between 1998 and 2012 and involved the conduct of bilateral formative and summative evaluations in all P/Ts. Under the second cycle, the evaluation work consisted of conducting two to three studies per year on the Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSMs) similar programming delivered under these agreements. The studies generated evaluation evidence on the effectiveness, efficiency and design/delivery of EBSMs for Canada overall and for the twelve P/Ts that opted for a joint evaluation process with Canada. Under LMDAs, Canada transfers $2.14B in Employment Insurance (EI) Part II funds to P/Ts for the design and delivery of programs and services to help unemployed individuals, mainly eligible under EI, to find and maintain employment"--Introd., p. vi.

This report presents the findings and conclusions for the Summative Evaluation of the Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSMs) delivered under the Canada-Nova Scotia Labour Market Development Agreement (Canada-Nova Scotia LMDA). The summative evaluation focused on examining the longer-term impacts, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of the interventions as well as achievement of the principles and guidelines as set out in the Employment Insurance Act and the LMDA.

"Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) worked jointly with New Brunswick and11 other Provinces and Territories (P/Ts) to undertake the 2012-2017 second cycle of the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) evaluation. The first cycle of the LMDA evaluation was carried out between 1998 and 2012 and involved conducting bilateral formative and summative evaluations in all P/Ts. Under the second cycle, the evaluation work consisted of conducting two to three studies per year on the Employment Benefits and Support Measures (EBSMs) similar programming delivered under these agreements. The studies generated evaluation evidence on the effectiveness, efficiency and design/delivery of EBSMs for Canada, for New Brunswick and for 11 other P/Ts that opted for a joint evaluation process with Canada"--Introduction, p. vi.