Ontario Construction Report staff writer
The federal government has provided an update on the implementation of its Team Canada Strong skilled-trades program, outlining timelines aimed at bringing more young people into the trades and supporting apprentices and employers.
Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu says the first programs will become available this fall, with new measures scheduled to launch in 2027.
One of the programs, Team Canada Strong Youth Placements, is currently accepting expressions of interest from organizations that connect young Canadians with paid opportunities in the skilled trades.
Beginning in early 2027, the program is expected to provide paid placements of up to four months, giving young people hands-on experience and an opportunity to explore careers in the trades.
The federal government has announced $880 million over five years to the program. Organizations have until Oct. 23 to submit an expression of interest.
Hajdu also provided an update on a $5,000 completion bonus for apprentices who complete their training and earn certification in an eligible Red Seal trade designated by their province or territory.
Applications are expected to open later this fall, and the bonus will also be available to people who received their certification on or after April 1, 2025.
The Build Canada Apprenticeship Service is also expected to launch later this fall. It will help connect apprentices with small and medium-sized employers, with employers eligible for up to $10,000 when they hire a first-year apprentice in an eligible Red Seal trade.
The service will also provide support aimed at helping apprentices overcome barriers and complete their training.
Another measure, the Apprenticeship Training Grant, is expected to launch in spring 2027. It will provide eligible apprentices attending mandatory in-class technical training with a $400 weekly top-up to Employment Insurance.
The grant will apply to eligible weeks of technical training beginning Jan. 3, 2027.
The federal government is also discussing new bilateral agreements with provinces and territories that would provide $2 billion in federal funding to expand access to pre-apprenticeship and technical training.
That funding is part of the government’s $8-billion Team Canada Strong initiative and is intended to create more training and apprenticeship opportunities for young people entering the skilled trades.
The update comes as the federal government projects more than 1.4 million job openings in the skilled trades between 2024 and 2033. The workers will be needed for projects including housing, transit and energy infrastructure.
“Young people want the opportunity to contribute and be part of building a stronger Canada for future generations,” Hajdu said. “By helping more young Canadians pursue careers in skilled trades, we are opening the door to meaningful work that will help build the homes, infrastructure and major projects Canada needs.”
The federal government says it already provides nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through loans, project funding, tax credits and deductions, Employment Insurance benefits and the Red Seal Program.