Government launches Calls for Proposals to get more apprentices certified in the skilled trades
by CM Staff
Selected funding recipients will distribute the financial incentives to SMEs, as well as provide additional supports such as help navigating the apprenticeship system and onboarding apprentices.
As part of its Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the federal government has launched a Call for Proposals under the new Apprenticeship Service, with the goal of supporting employers as they look to hire apprentices and provide on-the-job training towards a certification in the trades.
Announced in Budget 2021, the Apprenticeship Service will provide $470 million over three years, beginning in 2021-22, to help 55,000 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades connect with opportunities at small and medium-sized employers (SMEs).
Through the Apprenticeship Service Call for Proposals, selected funding recipients will distribute the financial incentives to SMEs, as well as provide additional supports such as help navigating the apprenticeship system and onboarding apprentices. SMEs will receive up to $5,000 each for a maximum of two eligible, new first-year apprentice hires and can use the incentive to pay for upfront costs such as salaries and training. “In addition, to boost diversity in the Red Seal trades, this incentive will be doubled to $10,000 for employers who hire from key groups, specifically women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of the LGBTQ2+ communities, newcomers and visible minorities including Black and other racialized communities,” the government said in a statement.
“Skilled tradespeople from across the country have been critical to essential sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic and their expertise is in high demand,” the government said. “This demand is expected to remain high over the next 10 years, as over 700,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire between 2019 and 2028, creating an ever growing need to recruit and train thousands of skilled trades people.”
Eligible organizations under both these calls for proposals are encouraged to submit proposals until September 14, 2021.
As outlined by the government, the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s objective is to strengthen existing apprenticeship supports in order to promote the skilled trades as a good career option, encourage the participation of underrepresented groups, facilitate employer and union participation, and encourage innovation in apprenticeship.
