What this program offers

On this page

• Program objectives
• Funding priorities
• Glossary

Program objectives

This call for proposals will fund projects that:

• support green training for journeypersons and apprentices in the Red Seal trades that are key to reducing Canada's emissions
• enhance partnerships in the Red Seal trades to support a robust trades and apprenticeship training ecosystem in Canada

The call for proposals is expected to benefit 14,800 journeypersons and apprentices.

Funding priorities

We aim to fund no more than 1 project within each of the 20 trades eligible under this call for proposals, subject to funding availability. We may give priority to projects that:

1. provide access to no-cost or low-cost green training opportunities
2. provide green training opportunities in 3 or more provinces (except Quebec) or territories
3. are led by a union representing workers in the Red Seal trades or an organization managing training funds on their behalf
4. aim to improve the participation or access, or both, to green training to equity-deserving groups such as:
   • women
   • persons with disabilities
   • Indigenous people
   • members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities
   • racialized communities
   • newcomers
5. are submitted by eligible organizations who have demonstrated 5 years or more of experience in the delivery of projects that support training of journeypersons or apprentices in the Red Seal trades

Glossary

Here is a list of key terms used within this applicant guide.

Apprentice

Individuals in a supervised work training program in a designated trade within their provincial or territorial jurisdiction. The apprentice must be registered with the appropriate governing body (usually a provincial or territorial ministry of education or labour, or a trade-specific industry governing body) to complete the training.

Cash Contribution

Amount of money provided by either your organization or by an external contributor such as a partner or other government entity (provincial, territorial, or municipal). Your organization must secure the amount of money to pay for eligible project costs for goods or services, or both, during the life of the project. Your organization is responsible for keeping a trail of the cash contribution received and expenditures made with it. For example:

• A project partner provides $10,000 in cash to the project. The recipient will use this contribution to purchase training equipment that are essential for the delivery of training as demonstrated in their project.
• The recipient provides $18,000 from their own money that will be used to pay for participant costs.

Green Training

Activities that equip workers with knowledge, competencies, or experience related to standards, practices and technology within the skilled trades that enable the environmental sustainability of economic activities, contribute to reducing pollution or conserving natural resources, or support sustainable and resource-efficient projects. Green training can include:

• technical knowledge and skills that are specialized and specific, often required to perform new tasks or jobs as a result of changes in greener technologies, practices, or standards.

  Examples of technical skills are:

  • skills to install and maintain geo-thermal piping systems, for example, heat pumps
  • skills to install and maintain renewable energy systems, for example:
    • photovoltaic
    • solar thermal
  • skills to install and maintain electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure
  • skills to recycle and dispose of environmentally sensitive materials
  • skills to install or retrofit buildings with high-efficiency lighting technologies
  • skills to install or retrofit buildings with high-efficiency insulation, including mechanical insulation
  • skills to install and maintain energy-efficient mechanical systems, for example:
    • heating
    • cooling
    • ventilation
    • air conditioning
  • skills to reduce industrial emissions such as new components in pollution control devices and systems, for example:
    • fabricating
    • constructing
    • installing
    • maintaining
    • repairing
  • skills to service, diagnose, and repair emission systems for diesel engines
• knowledge of environmental sustainability concepts, systems, processes, or practices, such as environmental regulations, resource efficient production processes and systems, environmental awareness, or waste management, to support the application and adaptation of current trade activities, skills, and knowledge. For example:
  • Industrial Mechanics (Millwright) will gain knowledge on renewable energy systems, such as hydroelectric generations plants or wind turbines, to install, repair, and maintain equipment.
  • Instrumentation and Control Technicians that install, maintain and service systems used for the purposes of environmental monitoring and protection (e.g., reporting on carbon capture and emissions)
  • Boilermakers who work on clean energy-producing systems and undertake nuclear power refurbishments.
  • Sheet Metal Workers who specialize in fabrication and installation of venting systems that support higher efficiency heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).

In-kind contribution

A non-monetary contribution of goods or services donated by your organizations or by an external contributor such as a partner or other government entity (provincial, territorial, or municipal governments). These donations must be eligible and essential to complete project activities. The project proposal (application form and Budget Detail Template) must include in-kind contributions at fair market value. For example:

• A project partner donates welding training equipment to the project
• A project partner donates the service of a consultant to support the project in the development of training material. While the consultant's salary is paid by the partner, it is not considered to be a cash contribution since it's the service that will be provided by the consultant that is donated
• The recipient donates computers and office furniture for project staff

Journeyperson

A trades worker who has successfully completed an apprenticeship program or met all the requirements of a trade and attained the prescribed pass mark on the certification exam.

Leveraging

The applicant organization must demonstrate that it has 10% or more of the total budget of their project in contribution. The applicant organization must also demonstrate that contributions are available before the project begins. Leveraged funding can come from your own organization or it can be provided through a partnering organization that agrees to give you money or in-kind donations towards the project.

Limited access to infrastructure

A situation where accessing resources and facilities is difficult and may limit employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the trades.

Limited partnership opportunities

A situation where establishing partnerships can be more difficult. This could happen because of a limited number of employers and training institutions, or agreement holders competing for available partners. For example, remote and isolated regions can have limited presence of partners such as:

• Large or major industries
• Colleges or polytechnics
• Non-governmental organizations

Organization managing "training trust funds" or "training funds"

A non-profit organization that is established primarily for the benefit of organized labour unions. The organization is:

• established to provide occupational training to members of a local union
• jointly managed by unions and employers
• established by multi-employer collective agreements

Other Workers

Individuals working in the Red Seal trades who do not hold a journeyperson certification or who are not registered apprentices (as permitted by the jurisdictional apprenticeship authority).

Partnership

An association of 2 or more organizations. Partners work together to carry out project activities and achieve results.

Red Seal Trades

A trade that has been designated by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) for inclusion in the Interprovincial Standards Program. The training and certification are based on a national occupational standard, and participating provinces and territories are permitted to affix a Red Seal to the certificates of candidates who meet the standard. A Red Seal endorsement on a journeyperson's Certificate of Qualifications confirms that the journeyperson has achieved a nationally recognized level of competency in the trade.

Note: This funding opportunity targets 20 specific Red Seal trades

List of the 20 eligible Red Seal trades and the provinces and territories where they are designated:

• Automotive Service Technician:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Boilermaker:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
• Bricklayer:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon
• Carpenter:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Construction Craft Worker:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
• Construction Electrician:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Glazier:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Industrial Electrician:

  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Northwest Territories
  • Yukon
• Industrial Mechanic (Millwright):

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Instrumentation and Control Technician:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Insulator (Heat and Frost):

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Landscape Horticulturist:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
• Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic):

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Yukon
• Plumber:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Powerline Technician:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Roofer:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Sheet Metal Worker:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon
• Truck and Transport Mechanic:

  • Alberta
  • British Columbia
  • Manitoba
  • New Brunswick
  • Newfoundland and Labrador
  • Nova Scotia
  • Ontario
  • Prince Edward Island
  • Saskatchewan
  • Northwest Territories
  • Nunavut
  • Yukon

Remote location

A geographical area where a community is located over 350 km from the nearest service centre that has year-round road access. This could include geographical areas that are without year-round road access. For example:

• small population, defined as an area with a population less than 1,000 or a population density of less than 400 persons per square kilometre
• limited access to urban centres and training facilities, defined as areas without year-round road access
• on-reserve

Union

Any organization of employees or any branch or location thereof, the purpose of which includes the regulation of relations between employers and employees. Unions are governed by constitutions and bylaws that must be registered with federal, provincial, or territorial government labour boards.