January 29, 2025 Edmonton, Alberta Employment and Social Development Canada
To support Canada's National Housing Plan and encourage more people to join the skilled trades, the Government of Canada is investing in local opportunities to train and recruit the next generation of workers needed to build a strong and certified workforce.
Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Steven MacKinnon 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.
