September 13, 2024 Edmonton, Alberta Employment and Social Development Canada
Canada's workforce needs more skilled trades workers. To encourage more people to pursue a career in the skilled trades, the Government of Canada is making investments to attract and train more young people to explore, enter and build careers in rewarding skilled trades and help support Canada's housing projects.
Today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced more than $2.9 million in funding for nine projects under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy's Investments in Training Equipment stream. These projects, which result from two calls for proposals launched in 2022 and 2023, bolster training through the purchase of equipment and materials.
As part of this announcement, seven organizations that support apprenticeship training are receiving funding to purchase training equipment and materials, such as cranes, demolition machines, elevated work platforms, forklifts, power trowels and laser levelers. This new technological training equipment and machinery will help to enhance skilled trades training in various sectors.
Funding under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy's Investments in Training Equipment stream aims to improve the quality of training for apprentices in Red Seal trades. This funding stream was formerly part of the Union Training and Innovation Program.
The Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy is the Government's response to the skilled trades workforce's most pressing needs, including addressing barriers to people entering the skilled trades, addressing the housing crisis and increasing net-zero construction.
The Government of Canada invests nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through grants, 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.
