Funding announced to help apprentices in Atlantic Canada complete their training

LOWER SACKVILLE, NS, Aug. 7, 2018 /CNW/ – Giving every Canadian a real and fair chance at success means helping them get the skills and training they need to succeed in a changing economy. The skilled trades are good, well-paying, middle-class jobs, and the Government of Canada is committed to supporting key groups, such as women, Indigenous people, newcomers and those with disabilities, to work in the skilled trades, while helping unions purchase up-to-date training equipment.

That is why today, Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville–Preston–Chezzetcook, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced that the Government of Canada is providing funding of more than $280,000 to the Atlantic Canada Regional Council of Carpenters, Millwrights and Allied Workers (ACRC) for its Work Ready Advancement Project.

In 2017–18, the Government invested almost $10 million for Stream 1 projects of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) to help unions across Canada purchase new and up-to-date training equipment and materials. As a result of this investment, more apprentices will be able to develop their skills, complete their training and find good, well-paying jobs.

With this funding, the ACRC will purchase up-to-date equipment and materials that will help apprentices in the carpenter and industrial mechanic Red Seal trades progress through their technical training. These include six smart boards, a scissor lift, an aerial lift and other equipment. The goal is to help participants in rural areas have timely access to the same level of educational opportunities as their counterparts in major centres. Activities will take place in Lower Sackville and Sydney, Nova Scotia, Fredericton and Saint John, New Brunswick, and St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador.

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On July 23, 2018, the Government launched a Call for Proposals for the Investments in Training Equipment (Stream 1) of the UTIP. This call is open for an eight-week application period, closing on September 17, 2018. The Government of Canada is investing a total of $8.5 million in this Call for Proposals.

As Canada’s economy continues to grow and create good, well-paying jobs, the Government is committed to ensuring that all Canadians share in and benefit from this success.

Quotes

“Canada’s future success depends on building an economy that is as inclusive as it is innovative. Our government is proud of this project that will help apprentices in the Halifax Regional Municipality and across Atlantic Canada, and especially those who face additional barriers to participate and succeed in the skilled trades, start exciting and well-paying careers in the trades.”
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“The Union Training and Innovation Program will help new generations of workers benefit from the mentorship and training that unions are so well equipped to offer. Through this project in Sackville–Preston–Chezzetcook, our government is building stronger communities and strengthening the middle class.”
– Darrell Samson, Member of Parliament for Sackville–Preston–Chezzetcook

“The UTIP funding has given the ACRC, in conjunction with our Carpenter Millwright Colleges, an incredible opportunity to purchase machinery and classroom technology upgrades for training centres across Atlantic Canada. With this assistance, we will be able to ensure our continuing membership training is available to even more workers in more locations and enhance the long‑term employability of Canadians in the construction field. The ACRC, its members and contractors want to thank the Canadian government for working with us to make our apprentices and all our members Work Ready!”
– Len J. Bryden, Executive Director of Training and Programs

Quick Facts

• The Union Training and Innovation Program was launched in 2017–18 with initial funding of $10 million and $25 million annually thereafter.
• The Government of Canada makes significant investments in apprenticeship and the skilled trades through the Red Seal program and other federal supports for apprenticeship. These include grants, loans and tax credits and Employment Insurance benefits during in-school technical training.
• Since the inception of the Canada Apprentice Loan in January 2015, more than 58,000 loans totalling over $224 million have been provided to apprentices.
• Since the introduction of the Apprenticeship Grants program, over 784,900 grants have been issued to apprentices, representing over $1.007 billion in funding.
• Budget 2018 announced three new initiatives to help apprentices succeed:
  • $46 million over five years, starting in 2018–19, with $10 million per year ongoing, for a new Pre‑Apprenticeship Program to help Canadians explore the trades, gain work experience, make informed career choices and develop the skills needed to find and keep good, well-paying jobs in the trades.
  • Approximately $20 million over five years, starting in 2018–19, to support an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women, a five-year pilot project where women in Red Seal trades that have low female representation would receive a new grant of $3,000 for each of their first two years of training. This, in combination with the existing Apprenticeship Completion Grant valued at $2,000, will result in a total of $8,000 in support over the course of their training.
  • $10 million over three years, starting in 2018–19, for the new Women in Construction Fund which will build on existing models that have proven to be effective in attracting women to the trades. These models provide supports such as mentoring, coaching and tailored supports that help women progress through their training and find and retain jobs in the trades.

Backgrounder

The Union Training and Innovation Program, which was announced in Budget 2016, targets the Red Seal trades and involves broad-based partnerships with a number of stakeholders. It is expected that the Program will:

• help improve the quality of training through investments in equipment;
• support innovative approaches and partnerships with other stakeholders; and
• reduce barriers to participation and success in the trades for key groups including women and Indigenous people.

The Program, which has two streams, is open to all unions, including those that do not provide training recognized by provinces and territories as technical apprenticeship training, and those that do not operate training facilities.

• Stream 1 helps unions purchase new and up-to-date training equipment. Continuous technological change puts pressure on training providers to ensure workers are developing the right skills needed on the job site.
• Stream 2 focuses on innovative approaches to help address challenges limiting apprenticeship outcomes, including barriers to participation and success in the trades for key groups such as women and Indigenous people. This stream is open to a range of stakeholders and partners, but unions need to be involved, either as the lead or as a partner on projects.

The Government of Canada invests significantly in apprenticeship through grants, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding and support for the Red Seal program. The Government is also working with the provinces and territories to harmonize apprenticeship training requirements in targeted Red Seal trades.