Question Period Notes
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What is the Government of Canada doing to support apprenticeship and the skilled trades? Demand for skilled trades workers is expected to remain strong, with over 593,000 projected job openings in Red Seal trade-related occupations between 2024 and 20331.
The scale of investments in housing and infrastructure projects will add to this demand. If nothing changes, Canada will face a persistent gap of more than 20,000 skilled trades workers per year.
Apprenticeship is a proven industry-based method of training, combining on-the-job (about 85%) and in-class technical training (about 15%) that leads to certification in a skilled trade.
Apprenticeship is a provincial/territorial responsibility. However, the Federal Government plays a key role by making significant investments through various initiatives, including the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy (CAS), to support apprenticeship and the skilled trades. The CAS, delivered by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), aims to support a trades workforce that is skilled, diverse and job-ready for today’s economy.
Employers play a fundamental role in apprenticeship and effective apprenticeship systems rely on their active participation.
Unions also play a critical role in apprenticeship. They provide quality training and upskilling opportunities to apprentices and journeypersons in the Red Seal trades. They also provide required occupational health and safety training and mentorship opportunities for apprentices with experienced journeypersons.
How do the Old Age Security (OAS) pension and the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) help ensure that the overall income of seniors does not fall below a specified threshold? In 2024–25, $80.2 billion was paid in Old Age Security (OAS) benefits to 7.5 million beneficiaries. This included:
$60.6 billion in OAS pension benefits to 7.4 million recipients;
$18.9 billion in Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) benefits to 2.5 million low-income OAS pensioners; and
$632 million in Allowance benefits to 68,700 near-seniors.
OAS expenditures in 2025 represented 2.78 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
All OAS benefits are adjusted four times per year (in January, April, July and October) in accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This allows OAS benefits to keep up with the rate of inflation. In addition, the Old Age Security Act contains a guarantee ensuring that benefits can never go down, even in the event of a decline in the CPI.
CanNor Accomplishments & Recent Investments Supporting the Yukon
CanNor Accomplishments & Recent Investments Supporting the Northwest Territories
CanNor Accomplishments & Recent Investments Supporting Nunavut
Regional Tariff Response Initiative (RTRI) in the territories
On December 16, 2025, the Government of Canada announced the coming into force of core elements of the Buy Canadian Policy to strengthen domestic industries and ensure federal procurement spending benefits Canadian businesses.
On December 16, 2025, the Government of Canada announced the coming into force of core elements of the Buy Canadian Policy to strengthen domestic industries and ensure federal procurement spending benefits Canadian businesses.
Aviation Security at Pearson
Public Services and Procurement Canada, in partnership with Indigenous Services Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat, is actively working to increase the participation of Indigenous businesses in federal procurement.
Note: All questions regarding the Indigenous Business Directory, verification of Indigeneity and alleged cases of Indigenous misrepresentation should be directed to Indigenous Services Canada