Ottawa investing $74 million to attract more women, youth into skilled trades

'We are setting up workers and businesses to take advantage of every opportunity, while creating good jobs for Canadian workers'

BY Jim Wilson 19 Aug. 2024

The federal government is investing over $74.6 million to attract more young people, women and other equity-deserving groups into the skilled trades.

“Canada is home to the smartest minds, the most talented workers and a strong education, training, and employment system,” said Randy Boissonnault, minister of employment, workforce development and official languages. “Building on these strengths will help us adapt to a changing global economy and get ahead. By investing in the skilled trades and jobs of the future, we are setting up workers and businesses to take advantage of every opportunity, while creating good jobs for Canadian workers.”

The investment will be invested in 124 projects funded through recent calls for proposals under the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP).

Ontario and Nova Scotia recently announced a framework for collaboration on international credential recognition and post-journeyperson certification.

What is the UTIP for skilled trades?

The UTIP supports union-based apprenticeship training, innovation and enhanced partnerships in the Red Seal trades across Canada through three streams of funding:

The Investments in Training Equipment stream helps unions and training providers improve the quality of training through the purchase of equipment and materials that meet the latest industry standards or investing in new technology needed to train workers in the Red Seal trades.
The Innovation in Apprenticeship stream supports innovative approaches and partnerships between unions to address apprenticeship challenges that are limiting equity deserving groups from succeeding in an apprenticeship. It supports unions to recruit and retain apprentices in Red Seal trades, including women, newcomers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized individuals, through activities such as mentorship, career services, wraparound supports and job matching.
The Sustainable Jobs stream funds projects that support unions and their partners in leading the development of green training for workers in the skilled trades. It supports the Government’s Sustainable Jobs Plan that will help to reduce Canada’s emissions.

Under the recent funding:

114 projects from the 2022 and 2023 calls for proposals under the Investments in Training Equipment stream are helping unions and training providers improve the quality of training through the purchase of equipment and materials that meet the latest industry standards or new technology.
10 projects from the 2022 call for proposals under the Innovation in Apprenticeship stream support unions to recruit and retain apprentices in Red Seal trades, including women, newcomers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized individuals, through mentorship, career services, wraparound supports and job matching.

UTIP is part of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s response to the skilled trades workforce’s most pressing needs, including addressing barriers to people entering the skilled trades, addressing the housing crisis and increasing net-zero construction.

Ottawa invests nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through grants, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal Program to help build a robust skilled trades workforce for the future that is inclusive, certified and productive, according to the federal government.

Since the start of the program in 2017, the federal government has invested nearly $305 million in grants and contributions funding under UTIP.

Ontario, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan have also invested big amounts to give their workforces a boost.