Question Period Note: SECTORAL WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS PROGRAM - SUSTAINABLE JOBS TRAINING FUND

How does the Government of Canada support workers to gain or upgrade skills for the low-carbon economy?

• Canada’s workforce is leading the transition toward a greener and more sustainable future. The Government of Canada is taking action to ensure that workers and employers in all regions of Canada have the skills and resources to thrive in the economy of today and tomorrow.

• The Government of Canada is investing over $75 million through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund (SJTF) in projects that will help workers upgrade their skills or gain new skills for jobs in the low-carbon economy.

• The Fund focuses on:
o low-carbon energy and carbon management;
o green buildings and retrofits, and
o electric vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure.

• This funding will:

o Benefit up to 15,000 workers in key sectors;
o Help reaching workers across all of Canada, in-person and/or virtually, to offer upskilling or training for the low-carbon economy, covering trades and non-trade occupations;
o Foster collaboration with partnerships to encourage industry-driven solutions to identify and address skills gaps in key sectors;
o Develop common approaches, lasting training opportunities, new delivery methods, and a more effective ecosystem to address ongoing labour needs;
o Improve the ability to recruit workers in sectors with increasing demand.

Through a series of national climate plans since 2016—including the 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan, which was the first plan under the Canadian Net-Zero Emissions Accountability Act, the Government of Canada has committed over $120 billion to climate action and low-carbon economic development.

As Canada continues to address climate change and grow a cleaner, stronger and more resilient economy, investing in Canadians will always be at the heart of the path forward. "Putting people first" is an essential principle identified by the Net-Zero Advisory Body in their first publication, Net-Zero Pathways: Initial Observations (2021).

The Government of Canada announced in February 2025 that it will be investing $75 million in a series of projects funded by the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund (SJTF) that will run from 2025–2028. This investment will help workers upgrade or gain new skills for low-carbon economy jobs.

SJTF projects focus on one of the three following areas:

1. Low-carbon energy and carbon management: projects to help workers develop skills for jobs in emerging industries and sectors related to the low-carbon agenda such as hydrogen, geothermal, wind, solar, carbon management, utilization and storage.

2. Green buildings and retrofits: projects that help train a workforce to build and retrofit homes and buildings to reduce energy consumption and achieve low-carbon performance, such as the installation of low-carbon heating (including heat pumps), energy efficient components and renewable energy systems.

3. Electric vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure: projects that help train the workforce across Canada to support the country’s transition to electric vehicles with a focus on the repair and maintenance of electric vehicles and national charging infrastructure.

The SJTF supports:

• Workers, particularly mid-career workers and members of equity-deserving groups, by funding projects that offer free or low-cost training designed to help workers upgrade or gain new skills for jobs in the net zero economy;
• Employers, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), by offering training designed specifically to meet employers’ needs, in areas where there are many SMEs and/or important supply chain issues, creating a catalyst for growth and economies of scale;
• Sectors, specifically energy, housing/construction and automotive, by strengthening sector capacity to address workforce needs and create talent pipelines to meet demand and capitalize on opportunities.

This funding will:
• Benefit up to 15,000 workers in sectors that are responsible for over 72% of GHGs;
• Reach workers across all of Canada, in-person and/or virtually, to offer upskilling or training for the low-carbon economy, covering trades and non-trade occupations;
• Foster collaboration with partnerships to encourage industry-driven solutions to identify and address skills gaps in key sectors;
• Develop common approaches, lasting training opportunities, new delivery methods, and a more effective ecosystem to address ongoing labour needs;
• Improve the ability to recruit workers in sectors with increasing demand.

This investment supports economic growth, job creation and Canada’s green economy. It also aligns with Canada’s interim Sustainable Jobs Plan for 2023–2025 to guide efforts to support the move to a net-zero emissions economy.

"Canada needs the expertise of skilled workers. The projects announced today represent Canada’s commitment to fostering sustainable economic growth and enhancing the well-being of all workers across Canada. Through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, we are helping to create meaningful job opportunities for Canadians and supporting sustainable practices across the country.”

– Former Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Steven MacKinnon, News Release, Government of Canada funds innovative projects providing skills training opportunities for more than 10,000 Canadian workers in key sectors of our economy

“Across regions and sectors, we are building our net-zero future, today. In order to reach our full potential, we are investing in Canadian workers, including through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund. This fund, alongside the Sustainable Jobs Act and other elements of our plan, is helping equip workers with the tools and skills they need to thrive in a low-carbon future.”

– Former Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Jonathan Wilkinson, news release, Government of Canada announces two new funding opportunities for sustainable jobs in the low-carbon economy - Canada.ca