Canada NewsWire
GATINEAU, QC, July 3, 2020
Eligible organizations have until August 28, 2020, to apply for funding
GATINEAU, QC, July 3, 2020 /CNW/ - In order to better position our country for a strong economic recovery, the Government of Canada is investing in our skilled trades to ensure that Canadians have the training they need to access these good, well-paying jobs.
Today, the Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, announced that the Government is investing $40 million over three years in the Union Training and Innovation Program and has launched two calls for proposals. Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for funding through two streams: Stream 1: Investments in Training Equipment; and Stream 2: Innovation in Apprenticeship.
Eligible projects will help unions across Canada improve the quality of training through investments in equipment and materials and support innovation and broad-based partnerships to address challenges faced by apprentices. The Program will also help to reduce barriers to participation and success in the trades among under–represented groups such as women, newcomers, persons with disabilities and visible minorities including Black Canadians. In order to support institutions as they continue to look at alternative delivery methods for future training, the Government encourages projects that allow apprentices and organizations to continue their training online.
With this investment, more apprentices will be able to gain the skills and experience they need to become certified journeypersons.
Quotes
"Skilled tradespeople are a key component of Canada's workforce. Their work is critical to several essential sectors during the pandemic, and they will continue to support the Canadian economy as it moves towards economic recovery. This investment will help Canadians get the training they need to start exciting and well-paying careers in the trades."
– The Honourable Carla Qualtrough, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion
"Given the CBTU's demonstrated and proven-track record of training apprentices, women, Indigenous people, new Canadians and other historically underrepresented people across Canada, the CBTU knows that the continuation of the UTIP grants in assisting in workforce development across Canada will continue training the next generation of Canada's skilled trade workforce. This much needed funding goes a long way to build life-long careers and most importantly allows the highly skilled graduates to both enter and remain in Canada's middle class."
– Mr. Sean Strickland, Executive Director for Canada's Building Trades Unions
Quick Facts
Associated Links
Apply for funding for the Investments in Training Equipment Stream
Apply for funding for the Innovation in Apprenticeship Stream
Union Training and Innovation Program
Support for Apprentices
Budget Plan
Backgrounder
Union Training and Innovation Program
The Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), announced in Budget 2016, targets the Red Seal trades and involves broad-based partnerships with a number of stakeholders. The Program objectives are to:
The Program has two streams and 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.
Quebec organizations are not eligible to apply for funding through the UTIP given that unions in the province are not directly involved in apprenticeship training. In Quebec, this training is solely undertaken in the public school system prior to an individual registering with an employer as an apprentice.
To account for specificities in Quebec's apprentice training system, the UTIP is implemented in Quebec through a separate agreement with the provincial government. Under the agreement, Employment and Social Development Canada is investing approximately $12 million from 2018–19 to 2020–21, while the Government of Quebec is investing $10 million to support the objectives of the UTIP.
Other supports to help under–represented groups in the trades
To support targeted groups facing barriers to succeed in the skilled trades, the Government of Canada launched the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women. This grant provides $3,000 per year or level, up to a maximum amount of $6,000, to registered apprentices who self-identified as a woman and have successfully completed their first or second year/level of an apprenticeship program in eligible Red Seal trades where they are under–represented.
In addition to the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women, the Government implemented two other initiatives to help apprentices succeed:
Budget 2019 Initiatives
To further support the skilled trades, the Government proposed several new measures in Budget 2019:
Additionally, as announced in the mandate letter for the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, the Government of Canada will support apprenticeship and the skilled trades by:
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
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