Helping More Indigenous Talent Enter the Skilled Trades in Edmonton

February 10, 2025

The federal government has announced funding of nearly $5 million to the Trade Winds to Success Training Society to train more than 290 Indigenous Red Seal apprentices in support of Canada’s Housing Plan.

Funded under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the Towards Net Zero Residential Construction project will enable Indigenous apprentices to develop Red Seal trade skills that support the transition to a clean economy and reduce environmental impacts. Trade Winds to Success will help apprentices succeed in their training by addressing barriers to get into the trades, complete their training and find and keep jobs in the skilled trades. Participants will also improve the essential skills needed in trades training so they can pass the Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training entrance exam successfully.

The Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy is investing up to $48.8 million, starting in 2024–25, in projects that support trades related to homebuilding. Budget 2024 and Canada’s Housing Plan have charted a path to unlocking 3.87 million new homes by 2031. Thousands of new skilled tradespeople will be needed to build these houses. To meet this objective, the Government is making targeted investments under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, aimed at developing a skilled, inclusive, certified and productive workforce.

This project funding is part of an effort to bolster investments in high-impact initiatives that provide supports to grow and develop a robust trades workforce that will propel the Canadian economy through the 21st century. 

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada invests nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal Program to help build a robust skilled trades workforce for the future that is inclusive, certified and productive. 
• According to BuildForce Canada, the construction industry needs to recruit 351,800 new workers by 2033. This need is driven predominantly by the expected retirement of 263,400 workers (21% of the 2023 labour force).  
• To further address the growing need for skilled trades workers, Budget 2024 announced a $90-million investment for the Apprenticeship Service to support small and medium-sized employers in creating placements for apprentices and $10 million for the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program to encourage Canadians to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades. 
• The Government of Canada also offers supports to apprentices as they progress through their technical training. Apprentices can access Employment Insurance benefits during technical training and up to $20,000 in interest-free Canada Apprentice Loans. 
• Canada.ca/skilled-trades provides Canadians with information about what the skilled trades are, how to become a tradesperson, and what financial supports are available to them while in training. 

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