Skilled tradespeople are essential for Canada to build more homes, make it easier to rent or own, and help the most vulnerable with stable housing. To encourage more people to pursue a career in the skilled trades, the Government of Canada is making investments to attract more young people, women, and under-represented groups to these rewarding and in-demand jobs, while ensuring apprentices are well-supported to develop the skills they need to take advantage of opportunities.
Today, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced investments of over $42 million for Quebec apprentices through the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy.
The Government of Canada is providing $39.4 million over five years, beginning in 2023-24, to the Government of Quebec through the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy's Union Training and Innovation Program. Through this joint investment, organizations in Quebec including professional and technical training institutions, Indigenous and not-for-profit organizations, and private sector employer groups will be able to benefit from funding to support investments in modern and up-to-date training equipment and materials. The funding will also support innovation and enhanced partnerships to help improve apprenticeship outcomes. Between 2,000 and 5,000 Red Seal apprentices, including individuals from under-represented groups, are expected to benefit from this funding each year in Quebec.
Minister Boissonnault also highlighted two investments for a total of over $3.5 million to two unions for projects under the Women in the Skilled Trades Initiative, helping women in Quebec get the apprenticeship training and support they need to enter the skilled trades workforce:
- An investment of over $940,000 to the Centrale des syndicats démocratiques (CSD) aims to reduce barriers and increase access to Red Seal Trades in Quebec by supporting learning activities such as information workshops across schools and facilitating mentoring collaborations.
- An investment of over $2.5 million to the Syndicat québécois de la construction (SQC) is helping them partner with recruiting firms to hire women apprentices, provide career development training and a wraparound supports to encourage retention and create a welcoming space to help women feel safe.
Minister Boissonnault made the announcement with unions where he met administrators and apprentices involved in projects. While in Quebec City, he will also be providing opening remarks at the Skills Canada National Competition, a multi-trade and technology competition for students and apprentices funded in part through the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy.
Budget 2024 and Canada's Housing Plan have charted a path to unlocking 3.87 million new homes by 2031. As part of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the Government of Canada is making targeted investments to recruit, retain and train a diverse and inclusive skilled trades workforce that will have the right technical and green skills to build the country's housing supply and grow tomorrow's low-carbon economy.
Each year, the Government of Canada invests nearly $1 billion in apprenticeship supports through grants, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal Program. This includes over $27 million over five years through a national agreement, from 2022 to 2027, and over $23 million through a regional agreement from 2020 to 2025, for Skills Canada to continue engaging with youth across the country.
