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 supports for apprentices, tradespeople, employers and unions.

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

We are also advancing work on a new UTIP sustainable jobs stream that will support the development of green skills training for up to 20,000 workers in the trades.

These federal apprenticeship investments will help ensure that Canada has the skilled workforce required to build Canada’s clean economy.

The 2022 Fall Economic Statement proposed to provide $250 million over five years starting in 2023-2024 to Employment and Social Development Canada to help ensure Canadian workers can thrive in a changing global economy. One of the measures includes a new sustainable jobs stream under the Union Training and Innovation Program. Funded projects through this stream will support unions in leading the development of green skills training for workers in the trades. It is expected that 20,000 apprentices and journeypersons would benefit from this investment.

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, a temporary pilot project which will inform future programming, 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.

Apprenticeship supports includes grants, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal Program.

Key statistics

Demand for skilled trades workers is expected to remain strong, with nearly 700,000 skilled trades workers retiring between 2019 and 2028 (Canadian Occupational Projection System, 2019 projection).

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 Government plays a key role by making significant investments through various initiatives to support apprenticeship and the skilled trades.

Employers also play a fundamental role in apprenticeship and effective apprenticeship systems rely on their active participation.

Note: On days when the House of Commons is sitting, preparation of the Background Section should not hold up the finalization and approval of key messages.