August 16, 2024 Ottawa, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada
Skilled tradespeople are essential for Canada to build more homes and unlock the country's full economic potential. To help recruit, retain and train more apprentices in skilled trades, the Government of Canada is making investments to attract more young people, women and other equity-deserving groups to these rewarding and in-demand jobs.
Today, the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, Jenna Sudds, on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced over $14.1 million for 13 new projects in the Ottawa Region funded through the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy's Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) - Investments in Training Equipment stream and the Innovation in Apprenticeship stream.
These projects are part of the announcement made earlier today by Minister Boissonnault, of more than $74.6 million being invested in 124 projects funded through recent calls for proposals under the UTIP. Under the Investments in Training Equipment stream, 114 projects from 2022 and 2023 calls for proposals are helping unions and training providers improve the quality of training through the purchase of equipment and materials that meet the latest industry standards or investing in new technology. The remaining ten10 projects are being funded under the 2022 UTIP - Innovation in Apprenticeship call for proposals, which support innovative approaches and strengthen partnerships to address apprenticeship challenges in the Red Seal trades.
UTIP is part of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy's response to the skilled trades workforce's most pressing needs, including addressing barriers to successful entry, addressing the housing crisis and increasing net-zero construction to unlock Canada's economic potential.
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.
