The skilled trades are essential to Canada's economy. Few industries are as essential to Canadians' everyday lives. Smart investments are needed to support Canadians from all backgrounds in taking up apprenticeship training now, and to help kick-start lucrative careers in well-respected skilled trades.
Today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, visited the LiUNA Local 527 Training Centre in Ottawa, Ontario, to highlight close to $49 million in funding for Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU) for a project under the Apprenticeship Service. The project provides financial incentives and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Since the project was announced in May, Canada's Building Trades Unions have begun reaching out to SMEs to recruit up to 5,000 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades over the next two years. This includes a minimum of 680 from equity-deserving groups such as women, Indigenous people and newcomers. The project is also working to set up an advisory committee with representatives from diverse stakeholder groups, including building trades unions, employers, trainers and organizations representing equity-deserving groups.
First-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades will get the hands-on experience and training they need to progress toward becoming certified journeypersons in the Red Seal trades as a result of connecting with these job opportunities. The organizations that are being funded under the Apprenticeship Service will distribute financial incentives to SMEs and provide additional supports, such as help navigating the apprenticeship system. They will also develop training for SMEs to support them in effective onboarding of apprentices and creating welcoming and inclusive workplaces. To help Canadians facing barriers to a career in the skilled trades, the incentives are doubled for SMEs that hire from equity‑deserving groups.
This project is one of the 13 Apprenticeship Service projects announced by Minister Qualtrough in May 2022. Through the Apprenticeship Service, the Government is investing over $393 million in 19 projects to support the creation of more than 42,000 apprenticeships across Canada.
The Government of Canada is investing nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through grants, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal program. Announced in Budget 2019, the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy will strengthen existing apprenticeship supports and programs by helping apprentices and key apprenticeship stakeholders, including employers, to participate and succeed in the skilled trades.
