Canada Announces Union and Non-Union Call for Proposals to Incentivize Apprenticeships in 39 Skilled Trades
August 12, 2021
The federal governemnt launched a Call for Proposals under the new Apprenticeship Service, to support employers, as they look to hire apprentices and provide on-the-job training towards a certification in the trades. Announced in Budget 2021, the Apprenticeship Service will provide $470 million over three years, beginning in 2021-22, to help 55,000 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades connect with opportunities at small and medium-sized employers (SMEs).
Employers play a fundamental role in Canada’s apprenticeship systems, however many employers, especially smaller firms, face barriers to participation in offering apprenticeship training opportunities. Through the Apprenticeship Service Call for Proposals, selected funding recipients will distribute the financial incentives to SMEs, as well as provide additional supports, such as help navigating the apprenticeship system, onboarding apprentices, and creating welcoming workplaces.
SMEs will receive up to $5,000 each for a maximum of two eligible, new first-year apprentice hires and can use the incentive to pay for upfront costs such as salaries and training. In addition, to boost diversity in the Red Seal trades, this incentive will be doubled to $10,000 for employers who hire from key groups, specifically women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of the LGBTQ2+ communities, newcomers and visible minorities including Black and other racialized communities.
Minister Qualtrough made this announcement virtually with Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, Tim Louis and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 804, who recently received over $5.4 million in funding, over the next 5 years, for their project under the Innovation in Apprenticeship Stream of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). The IBEW Local 804’s project will help address complex challenges faced by their members, including women, Indigenous peoples, apprentices and journeypersons, by removing barriers to apprenticeship training. It will also support the design of an in-class training program that has an on-line component to support the ongoing certification and up-skilling requirements of members located in the Waterloo region.
As part of this virtual visit, the Minister also launched the Call for Proposals for the Investments in Training Equipment stream of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). The Government is investing $7 million over three years in this Call for Proposals.
Eligible projects will help unions across Canada improve the quality of training through investments in equipment and materials. Pre-apprentices and apprentices will benefit from up-to-date, modern equipment. This Call for Proposals prioritizes projects that help pre-apprentices and apprentices to develop environmental skills in the Red Seal trades and reduce barriers to participation and success in the trades among under-represented groups.
Eligible organizations under both these calls for proposals are encouraged to submit proposals until September 14, 2021.
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