Feds announce $247 million to create apprenticeship positions across Canada

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The CANADIAN PRESS

The federal government will spend nearly $247 million to help create more than 25,000 apprenticeship positions in the skilled trades across Canada. Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says the money will fund 13 programs to help small- and medium-sized employers offer apprenticeship training.

In a news release, Qualtrough said more than $45 million will go to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum to help hire 4,000 first-year apprentices in the construction and manufacturing trades.

Employers would be eligible for double the money if they hire certain equity-seeking groups such as women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized people.

The government says about 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire in Canada by 2028.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum says in the news release that in order to meet demand for skilled workers, an average of 75,000 new apprentices will need to be hired per year over the next five years.

The most sought-after tradespeople include welders, industrial mechanics, bricklayers and boilermakers.

According to BuildForce Canada, the construction industry alone needs to recruit 309,000 new workers over the next decade to meet expected demand.

Canadian Apprenticeship Forum executive director France Daviault welcomed the announcement.

“The apprenticeship community understands the importance of encouraging and supporting employers to hire new apprentices,” Daviualt said in the news release.

Funding includes:

  • Building and Construction Trades Department: $48.8 million to help 5,000 first-year Red Seal trade apprentices, including 20 per cent from under-represented groups, to obtain Red Seal certifications and find employment.
  • United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners: $36.8 million for a project to enhance efforts to recruit and retain apprentices in Red Seal Trades, and to develop and implement supports and incentives for small and medium-sized businesses to support underrepresented communities into the Red Seal trades.
  • Canadian Institute of Steel Construction: $27.1 million for a project to encourage small and medium-sized businesses to hire first-year apprentices, and to promote the benefits of apprenticeship training.
  • Christian Labour Association of Canada: $14.7 million to help employers hire 2,000 first-year apprentices and support businesses to hire and onboard new apprentices.
  • Electricity Human Resources Canada: $8.2 million for a project to provide financial support to 350 Small and Medium-sized Enterprises in the electricity, energy efficiency and clean-tech industries in hiring 1,400 first-year apprentices in Red Seal trades positions.
  • Family Services of Peel: $4.5 million to recruit, orient, connect and direct new Red Seal skilled trades candidates to apprenticeship opportunities in the manufacturing and construction sectors.
  • Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition: $1.9 million to support the registration of 250 first-year apprentices in fields such as industrial millwright, electrician, metal fabricator, machinist, welder, and tool and die makers.

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