Question Period Note: Apprenticeship

What is the Government of Canada doing to support apprenticeship and the skilled trades?

• Our Government is a strong supporter of apprenticeship and the skilled trades that provide Canadians with well-paying, rewarding careers.

• That is why our Government invests nearly $1 billion annually in a broad array of apprenticeship supports.

• As part of the new Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, we are investing an additional $84.2 million over four years to double funding for the Union Training and Innovation Program.

• We are also advancing work on the Apprenticeship Service, an initiative to provide $470 million in supports to small and medium-sized employers to help them hire first-year apprentices.

• These investments will improve the quality of training in the skilled trades and help up to 55,000 apprentices connect with job opportunities in the trades.

• Budget 2022 announced $84.2 million over four years to double funding for the Union Training and Innovation Program. Each year, the new funding will help 3,500 apprentices from equity-deserving groups begin and succeed in skilled trades careers through mentorship, career services, and job-matching.

• Announced in Budget 2021, the Apprenticeship Service is an investment of $470 million over three years, beginning in 2021-2022. This initiative aims to help up to 55,000 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades connect with job opportunities with small and medium-sized employers (SMEs). It provides financial incentives and other supports to SMEs that hire apprentices, especially from equity-deserving groups.

• Announced in Budget 2019, the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy provides a framework for federal apprenticeship initiatives that support a trades workforce that is skilled, inclusive, certified and productive. It builds on the success of apprenticeship measures such as the Union Training and Innovation Program, the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program, the Apprenticeship Grants, and the Apprenticeship Service, and supports apprentices, employers, tradespeople and individuals.

• The Government currently invests approximately $1 billion annually in a broad array of apprenticeship supports (e.g., grants, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal Program).

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