Backgrounder : Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy – Investments in Training Equipment

The Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy aims to support a trade workforce that is skilled, inclusive, certified and productive. It includes initiatives formerly under the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), which supports apprenticeship training through three funding streams:
 

• 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 by 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.

Quebec organizations are not eligible to apply for funding through the UTIP given that unions in the province are not directly involved in apprenticeship training. In Quebec, this training is solely undertaken in the public school system prior to an individual registering with an employer as an apprentice.

To account for specificities in Quebec’s apprentice training system, the UTIP is implemented in Quebec through a separate agreement with the provincial government. Under the agreement, Employment and Social Development Canada is providing $39.4 million over five years, beginning in 2023–24, to the Government of Quebec to support the objectives of the UTIP. Between 2,000 and 5,000 Red Seal apprentices, including individuals from equity-deserving groups, are expected to benefit from this funding each year in Quebec.