NEWS FOR NEWCOMERS
NEWCOMERS, CANADA NEEDS YOU IN SKILLED TRADES!
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From EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT CANADA
The government of Canada is investing in the skilled trades to ensure that Canadians have the training they need to access good, well-paying jobs.
The government is making targeted investments, so that key groups facing barriers can better find work in the skilled trades through projects led by unions and their partner organizations.
A project funded under the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) received an investment of nearly $890,000 to the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades. The College will implement online learning as a means of supporting a more diverse and highly skilled carpentry workforce.
The UTIP supports union-based apprenticeship training and works to reduce barriers to participation and success in Red Seal trades. The first stream, Investments in Training Equipment, helps unions across Canada improve the quality of training through investments in equipment and materials. The second stream, Innovation in Apprenticeship, supports innovation and strengthened partnerships to address challenges that are limiting apprenticeship outcomes in Canada.
The delivery of this course will mitigate significant challenges limiting apprenticeship outcomes for women, newcomers, and persons with disabilities, and increase employment opportunities and flexibility by increasing efficiency in learning.
In Budget 2021, the government proposed providing $470 million over three years, beginning in 2021-2022, to establish a new Apprenticeship Service. This initiative will help 55,000 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades connect with opportunities at small and medium-sized employers. Employers could receive up to $5,000 for first-year apprenticeship opportunities to pay for costs such as salaries and training.
In addition, to increase diversity in Red Seal trades, the government of Canada will double the incentive to $10,000 through Budget 2021 for employers who hire Canadians from under represented groups, including women, racialized Canadians, and persons with disabilities. It has also proposed to waive interest on the Canada Apprentice Loans until March 31, 2023. These measures will help to ensure that those who want to build a career in the skilled trades get the support they need to succeed.
“As we continue to fight COVID-19, our support for workers remains strong,” said minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough.
A few quick facts:
Through the UTIP, the government of Canada provides $25 million annually to support union-based apprenticeship training, innovation and enhanced partnerships in the Red Seal trades.
Demand for skilled tradespeople is expected to remain strong as the economy moves toward recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2028, about 700,000 skilled trades workers are also expected to retire. Meeting these demands will require the recruitment and training of thousands of additional skilled workers.
In Canada, young women continue to be less likely to express interest in a career in the skilled trades. According to an OECD survey, only 2 per cent of 15-year-old female students indicated they were planning to pursue a career in the skilled trades.
The government of Canada invests significantly in apprenticeships through grants, loans, tax credits, and Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training.