Ontario Construction News staff writer
The federal government has announced a plan to pay a $5,000 completion bonus to eligible journeypersons who obtained certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025.
Applications for the Red Seal Completion BonusĀ open Nov. 16, under the $8-billion Team Canada Strong initiative, which aims to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers over five years.
Patty Hajdu, minister of jobs and families and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, is encouraging eligible tradespeople to prepare their applications before the portal opens.
Applicants must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents or protected persons and cannot currently be attending high school.
Required documents and information include a Social Insurance Number (SIN), mailing address, banking information for direct deposit, Red Seal trade name and certification date, province or territory of certification, and apprentice identification number. An email address is optional but recommended.
Permanent residents with a SIN beginning with the number 9 and protected persons must also provide proof of their status in Canada.
The Team Canada Strong initiative is intended to address demand for skilled trades workers needed to build housing, strengthen critical infrastructure and support major economic and defence projects.
The federal government also provides nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through loans, project funding, tax credits and deductions, Employment Insurance benefits and the Red Seal Program.
