Halifax, Nova Scotia — Federal officials made quite the splash at the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum’s 2022 National Apprenticeship Conference in Halifax this week, announcing a nearly $247 million into 13 projects geared towards setting up small and medium-sized businesses with the ability to offer apprenticeship training opportunities.
The government says in its press release that over the next two years, first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades will get the hands-on experience and training they require to earn their certifications through an employer offering apprenticeships.
Businesses that seek out apprenticeship opportunities also stand to benefit from financial incentives of $5,000 for each new, first-year apprentice hired, for a maximum of two eligible apprentices per year. Incentives will be doubled for employers who hire from equity-deserving groups, such as women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized people.
The government expects this investment to create 25,000 new apprenticeship positions across Canada.
As part of the announcement, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion Carla Qualtrough highlighted funding of over $45 million to the CAF for a project that will provide financial support to employers to hire 4,000 first-year Red Seal apprentices in the construction and manufacturing trades.
“About 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire in Canada by 2028. That’s 700,000 good jobs waiting for Canadians. We need Canadians to be able to seize these opportunities, and to have the tools, training and resources they need to thrive. Apprenticeships are one of the best ways to do that,” said Qualtrough.
The 13 organizations receiving funding under the 2021 Apprenticeship Service Call for Proposals are national skilled trades training organizations such as the Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition, Okanagan College, the Lethbridge Youth Foundation, Canadian Institute of Steel Construction, and several others.
