Backgrounder: Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy

The Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy aims to support a trades workforce that is skilled, inclusive, certified and productive. The Strategy funds projects that aim to:

• promote the skilled trades as a good career option;
• develop initiatives that help Canadians explore, prepare for, participate in and succeed in apprenticeships;
• facilitate the participation of employers and unions in apprenticeships; and
• encourage innovative tools and approaches to better prepare pre-apprentices, apprentices and journeypersons for the jobs of tomorrow.

Union Training and Innovation Program’s Sustainable Jobs stream

The Sustainable Jobs stream of the Union Training and Innovation Program, under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, supports the Government’s Sustainable Jobs Plan. The Sustainable Jobs stream is designed for projects that will develop and deliver green training for journeypersons and apprentices in Red Seal trades that are key to reducing Canada’s emissions. The Sustainable Jobs stream call for proposals closed on September 5, 2024. 

Eligible organizations include:

• organizations that are located and operate in Canada (except in Quebec);
• unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades; and
• organizations managing training trust funds for unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades.

The following organizations are also eligible, if they have a partnership with a union representing workers in the Red Seal trades:

• not-for-profit organizations;
• for-profit organizations;
• provincial, territorial and municipal governments, agencies, institutions and Crown corporations; and
• Indigenous organizations.

Projects that received funding under the 2024 call for proposals, to date:

Organization: National Electrical Trade Council
Project title: Red Seal Powerline Technician Upgrade Initiative
Description: This project will train Red Seal powerline technicians to use drones for powerline maintenance to support the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. This project will target both unionized and non-unionized journeypersons and apprentices, including those from equity-deserving groups. It will also provide wraparound supports via tuition costs. The project will be delivered in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Region: Toronto, Ontario

Organization: United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America
Project title: UBC Built: Sustainable Millwrighting
Description: The project will develop and implement virtual reality green training for industrial mechanic (millwright) apprentices and journeypersons on skills needed to work with new and emerging green technologies within the power generation industry. The project will be delivered in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Region: Concord, Ontario

Organization: Carpenters’ Regional Council
Project title: Sustainable Building Practices
Description: The project will develop and deliver green training for carpenter apprentices and journeypersons to prepare them with the skills and hands-on experience required to work with new and emerging green technologies, including mass timber construction and building envelopes, as strategies to accelerate the construction of commercial and multi-unit residential constructions at greater speeds, lower costs, lower emissions and long-term carbon storage. The project will be delivered in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador.
Region: Concord, Ontario

Organization: Trucking Human Resources Canada
Project title: New Training for New Tools: Building a Green Truck Maintenance Course for Truck Mechanics
Description: The project will develop and implement a new green truck maintenance bridging training for apprentices and journeypersons in the truck and transport mechanic trade to supplement current Red Seal Occupational Standards for the truck and transport mechanic trade. The project will be delivered in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario.
Region: Ottawa, Ontario

Organization: Building and Construction Trades Department
Project title: Green Futures Training Partnership: a CBTU and SMART Canada Project
Description: The project will develop and deliver green training for sheet metal apprentices and journeypersons to create a highly skilled, safety-conscious and environmentally aware workforce of sheet metal workers dedicated to all aspects of roofing, architectural cladding, custom sheet metal and complete ventilation systems. The project will be delivered in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador .
Region: Ottawa, Ontario

Organization: Western Joint Electrical Training Society
Project title: SPARK: Sustainable Practices and Advanced Renewable Knowledge
Description: The project will address green skills, knowledge, and competency gaps by providing innovative, hands-on green skills training for construction electrician apprentices, journeypersons and other workers across Canada to make progress on Canada’s low-carbon economy goals. The project will be delivered in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia
Region: Delta, British Columbia

Organization: BC Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council (SkillPlan)
Project Title: National Training System to Ensure Low-Carbon Building Performance to Reduce Energy Consumption
Description: The project will develop and test a nationally certified training program for insulator apprentices and journeypersons to support Canada’s insulation trades workforce. The project will be delivered in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Region: Burnaby, British Columbia