August 16, 2024 Toronto, 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 Diversity, Inclusion, and Persons with Disabilities, Kamal Khera, and the Minister of Mental Health and Addictions and Associate Minister of Health, Ya'ara Saks, on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced a total of more than $13.6 million for five projects from the Greater Toronto Area under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy's Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). These five projects are part of a total of 124 projects worth a combined $74.6 million funded through recent calls for proposals under the UTIP.
Under the Investments in Training Equipment stream 2022 and 2023 calls for proposals, 114 projects 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.
Under the Innovation in Apprenticeship stream 2022 call for proposals, 10 projects are supporting unions to recruit and retain apprentices in Red Seal trades, including women, newcomers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, and racialized individuals, through mentorship, career services, wrap-around supports and job matching.
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.
