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Government launches Calls for Proposals to get more apprentices certified in skilled trades

Ottawa – As part of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, the Government is making targeted investments to remove barriers and get more Canadians the hands-on experience and apprenticeship training they need to build good, well-paying careers in the skilled 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.

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, onboarding apprentices, and creating welcoming workplaces. 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.

Eligible projects will help unions across Canada improve the quality of training through investments in equipment and materials. Pre-apprentices and apprentices will benefit from up-to-date, modern equipment. This Call for Proposals prioritizes projects that help pre-apprentices and apprentices to develop environmental skills in the Red Seal trades and reduce barriers to participation and success in the trades among under-represented groups.

Eligible organizations under both these calls for proposals are encouraged to submit proposals until Sept. 14, 2021. For more information, visit the government’s website.