The Honourable Patty Hajdu announces funding for training equipment to help apprentices in Thunder Bay complete their skills training and be workforce-ready

THUNDER BAY, ON, Aug. 30, 2018 /CNW/ - Giving every Canadian a fair chance at success means helping them get the skills and training they need to succeed in a changing economy. The skilled trades are good, well-paying, middle-class jobs, and the Government of Canada is committed to supporting key groups, such as women, Indigenous people, newcomers and people with disabilities, to work in the trades. Providing financial support to unions to purchase up-to-date training equipment is one of the ways the Government is helping unions train apprentices from these key groups.

Today the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced that the Government of Canada is investing close to $166,000 to Carpenters Local 1669 Training Centre for its Welding ? Gateway to General Carpentry project. Minister Hajdu made the announcement together with the Honourable Harjit Sajjan, Minister of National Defence, and Don Rusnak, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services.

Funding for the project is provided through the Investments in Training Equipment Stream (Stream 1) of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). UTIP has two funding streams: Investments in Training Equipment (Stream 1) and Innovation in Apprenticeship (Stream 2). Both streams support key groups that face barriers so they can succeed in the skilled trades.

Continuous technological change means that apprentices need higher-quality training to develop the right skills required on jobsites. By purchasing new, up-to-date equipment, Carpenters Union Local 1669 will help apprentices in the carpenter and welder Red Seal trades progress through their technical training, leading to a pool of certified journeypersons from key groups ready to participate in the job market. The equipment includes two welding simulators, four dual weld stations, four laptops and other materials.

As Canada's economy continues to grow and create good, well-paying jobs, the Government is committed to ensuring that all Canadians share in and benefit from this success.

Quotes

"Canada's future success depends on building an economy that is as inclusive as it is innovative. Our government is proud of this project that will help apprentices in Thunder Bay update their skills, and give those who face additional barriers a fair chance to start exciting and well-paying careers in the trades."
? The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

"The Carpenters Local 1669 Training Centre is very grateful for the UTIP funding we have received. This funding has given us the opportunity to expose and train our members as well as key groups from Northern Ontario with state-of-the-art welding equipment. Thank you for your generosity and continued support."
? Evan Reid, President, Carpenters Local 1669 Training Centre and Local Union Coordinator

Quick Facts

• UTIP provides $25 million annually to support investments in up-to-date training equipment and materials for unions as well as innovative approaches to address the challenges that limit apprenticeship outcomes.
  
  
• The Government launched a Call for Proposals for the Investments in Training Equipment (Stream1) of UTIP on July 23, 2018. A total of $8.5 million is being invested in this call, which will close on September 17, 2018.
  
  
• In 2017?18, the Government of Canada invested a total of $7.8 million in 34 Investments in Training Equipment projects.
  
  
• The Government of Canada makes significant investments in apprenticeship and the skilled trades through the Red Seal program and other federal supports for apprenticeship. These include grants, loans, tax credits and Employment Insurance benefits during in-school technical training.
  
  
• In Budget 2018, the Government announced three new initiatives to further support groups facing barriers so they can succeed in the skilled trades, including a Pre-Apprenticeship Program, an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women and the Women in Construction Fund.

Associated Links

Investments in Training Equipment ? Call for Proposals 
Union Training and Innovation Program 
Support for Apprentices 

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Backgrounder

The Union Training and Innovation Program

The Union Training and Innovation Program, which was announced in Budget 2016, targets the Red Seal trades and involves broad-based partnerships with a number of stakeholders. It is expected that the Program will:

• help improve the quality of training through investments in equipment;
• support innovative approaches and partnerships with other stakeholders; and
• reduce barriers to participation and success in the trades for key groups including women, Indigenous people, newcomers and people with disabilities.

The Program, which has two streams, 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.

• Stream 1 helps unions purchase new and up-to-date training equipment. Continuous technological change puts pressure on training providers to ensure workers are developing the right skills needed on the job site.
  
  
• Stream 2 focuses on innovative approaches to help address challenges limiting apprenticeship outcomes, including barriers to participation and success in the trades for key groups such as women and Indigenous people. This stream is open to a range of stakeholders and partners, but unions need to be involved, either as the lead or as a partner on projects. 

The Government of Canada invests significantly in apprenticeship through grants, loans, tax credits, project funding, support for the Red Seal program and Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training. The Government is also working with the provinces and territories to harmonize apprenticeship training requirements in Red Seal trades.

Budget 2018 investments in skilled trades

Budget 2018 announced three new initiatives to help apprentices succeed:

• Starting in 2018?19, $46 million will be invested over five years, with $10 million per year thereafter, for a new Pre-Apprenticeship Program to help Canadians?including those who face barriers, such as women, Indigenous people, newcomers, people with disabilities and youth?explore the trades, gain work experience, make informed career choices and develop the skills needed to find and keep good, well-paying jobs in the trades.
  

• Starting in 2018?19, approximately $20 million over five years will be invested to support an Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women, a five-year pilot project where women in Red Seal trades that have low female representation would receive a new grant of $3,000 for each of their first two years of training. This, in combination with the existing Apprenticeship Completion Grant valued at $2,000, will result in a total of $8,000 in support over the course of their training.
  
  
• Starting in 2018?19, $10 million will be invested over three years for the new Women in Construction Fund, which will build on existing models that have proven to be effective in attracting women to the trades. These models provide supports such as mentoring, coaching and tailored supports that help women progress through their training and find and retain jobs in the trades.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada