Quebec’s government has formally asked to be excluded from the new federal skills-training program, which has come under fire since it was announced in yesterday’s budget.

The Parti Quebecois says the program is a 15-year step backward – from before labour training was transferred to the provinces after  the 1995 Quebec independence vote.

Ontario and B-C have already come out against the skills-training change, which would have provinces footing more of the bill.

Nova Scotia and Newfoundland have asked for more information.