Building a strong economy starts with a strong workforce. As the economy continues to evolve, demand for skilled workers is growing. Across Canada, skilled trades workers are driving economic growth, supporting key industries, strengthening supply chains and building the homes and infrastructure Canadians rely on every day.
To help build the homes, infrastructure and defence capabilities Canada needs, the Government of Canada is making targeted investments that create pathways to training and rewarding careers for young people. Today, the Honourable John Zerucelli, Secretary of State (Labour), announced more than $2.1 million in additional funding over the next year to The Educational Partnership Foundation to expand its Trades Careers program, bringing the total investment in the project to nearly $5.7 million.
The Educational Partnership Foundation, together with its union partners, supports young Canadians in Alberta and British Columbia as they develop skills, gain valuable work experience and pursue apprenticeship certification in the Red Seal trades through a Registered Apprenticeship Program.
This investment, delivered through the Union Training and Innovation Program - Innovation in Apprenticeship, under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, supports high-quality apprenticeship opportunities, helping participants gain the knowledge, experience and credentials needed to succeed in skilled trades.
Today's announcement aligns with the Government of Canada's plan to build Canada strong. The 2026 Spring Economic Update announced $6 billion over five years for Team Canada Strong, an end-to-end strategy to recruit, train and hire between 80,000 and 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers by 2033. These efforts were recently amplified with an additional $2 billion for new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories to expand access to pre-apprenticeship and technical training. The Team Canada Strong plan will transform the skilled trades, bringing more apprentices into the workforce, and ensure more young Canadians have clear, paid pathways into meaningful careers.
