Who can apply

Eligibility

Applicants

Your organization must be one of the following types:

a union representing workers in the Red Seal trades
an organization managing training trust funds for unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades, for example:
- a joint training trust fund set up by a union
- a joint training trust fund set up by a union and an employer association
a training provider that provides technical training to pre-apprentices and apprentices as part of a recognized apprenticeship program for a Red Seal trade

Note to organizations located in Quebec

Organizations in the Province of Quebec can’t apply for this funding opportunity. ESDC is providing the Government of Quebec with funding so that they can implement similar activities that account for the unique features of Quebec's apprenticeship system.

Projects and activities

Your project must meet all the following criteria:

target training for pre-apprentices and apprentices in the Red Seal trades
*Note: Projects must target training for apprentices. Pre-apprentices can be included in the project but are not required.
support trades that are designated under the Interprovincial Standard Red Seal Program
request no more than $5,000,000
*Note: organizations can receive up to $5,000,000 in funding per fiscal year under this continuous intake
have cash contributions from sources other than the Government of Canada:
- equal to or more than 50% of the cost of new, up-to-date equipment and materials
- 30% if you can clearly demonstrate that a minimum of 50% of your project’s activities are affected by any of the following challenges:
  - remote location
  - limited access to infrastructure, or
  - limited partnership opportunities

Determine the minimum cash contribution required to meet eligibility criteria

This tool only provides an estimate.

To be eligible, your project must have a cash contribution equal to or more than 50% of the cost of equipment and materials (including GST/HST).

This must come from sources other than the Government of Canada
Only cash contributions are eligible under this funding process. In-kind contributions are not applicable.

Note: If your organization receives a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax rebate for the purchase of equipment and materials, this amount should be deducted from the total cost. It is your responsibility to claim your CRA tax rebate.

If your project experiences challenges

We’ll accept a 30% cash contribution if you can clearly demonstrate that a minimum of 50% of your project's activities are affected by any of the following challenges:

Estimate the minimum cash contribution you would need to provide for the purchase of equipment and materials.

See example calculations

Example 1

You are purchasing a crane for $450,000, including tax
Your costs to support reporting are $2,500 (cannot exceed $3,900)
Your total project cost is the cost of the equipment and materials plus the cost of reporting:
$450,000 + $2,500 = $452,500
You are providing a 50% cash contribution
You would need to provide a minimum of $225,000 in cash contributions

$450,000 x 0.5 (50%) = $225,000

Your request to ESDC would be for a maximum of $227,500

$225,000 + $2,500 = $227,500

Example 2

You are purchasing the following equipment (all prices include tax):
- An excavator for $345,500
- A dozer for $525,000
- A haul truck for $822,550
- A backhoe for $123,598
The total of your equipment purchase is $1,816,648
Your costs to support reporting are $3,900 (cannot exceed $3,900)
You are providing a 50% cash contribution
You would need to provide a minimum of $908,324 in cash contributions

$1,816,648 X 0.50 (50%) = $908,324

Your request to ESDC would be for a maximum of $912,224

$908,324 + $3,900 = $912,224

Example 3

You are purchasing the following equipment and materials (all prices include tax):
- 2 X Battery-powered Duotack Applicator - $4,536.10
- 1 X Infrared Thermometer - $142.84
- 8 X Toolbox - $182.60
- 8 X Tape Measures - $299.00
- 8 X Utility Knife 25mm Super Duty - $146.92
- 8 X Shingler’s Hatchet - $503.92
- 5 X Hot Air Hand Tool - $5,893.96
- 8 X Laptop - $13,339.60
- 8 X Office Oroductivity Software - $1,554.08
The total of your equipment purchase is $26,599.02
Your costs to support reporting are $3,900 (cannot exceed $3,900)
You are providing a 30% cash contribution because at least 50% of your project's activities are delivered in a remote location
You would need to provide a minimum of $7,979.71 in cash contributions

$26,599.02 X 0.30 (30%) = $7,979.71

Your request to ESDC would be for a maximum of $22,519.31

$26,599.02 X 0.70 (70%) = $18,619.31 (ESDC contribution)

$18,619.31 + $3,900 = $22,519.31

What the funding can be used to pay for

We can only pay you back for eligible costs. Eligible costs must directly relate to your project activities.

Eligible activities

purchase of equipment (new or refurbished) and materials directly related to training pre-apprentices and apprentices in a designated Red Seal trade
the collection of data and reporting of results

Eligible costs

Training equipment and materials that meet industry standards applicable to the job site. Refurbished equipment that aligns with industry standards is eligible.
Here are some examples of equipment and materials that you can buy:
- technology, including software and simulators, for example:
  - a tower crane
  - backhoe
  - virtual reality simulator
- advanced welding technology
- geothermal training systems
- milling/bevelling guns
- electric hoists
- sheet metal for use in training activities (for example, welding)
- trailers to transport equipment for mobile classrooms in remote locations
- electric vehicles used exclusively to train automotive service technicians
- computers, tablets, and laptops used exclusively to operate technology for training purposes only
- mandatory protective equipment for training purposes only
staff wages or professional fees (including mandatory employment-related costs) to support reporting only (a maximum of $3,900 per project can be requested)

Ineligible costs

purchase or lease of used equipment
transportation, such as:
- vehicle (excludes electric vehicles used to train automotive service technicians)
- trailer to transport equipment (excludes mobile classrooms used for remote locations)
- shipping and delivery of equipment
development and delivery of training program and related learning materials, such as:
- workbooks
- digital content
installation of equipment, including warranties, electrical upgrades and maintenance
storage, such as:
- cabinets and shelving
- tool storage
- outdoor storage
training facility improvement or expansion, such as:
- renovations and upgrades
- building expansions
- facility renovations
staff wages for the development and delivery of in-person, online and virtual training
participant costs
set-up of classrooms (excludes mobile classrooms used for remote locations), including:
- office supplies
- desks and furniture
- computers, laptops and tablets
purchase or lease of real property, such as buildings or land

Other eligibility requirements

application is completed in full
attestation in part 4 is checked
a quote is provided from each vendor for the purchase of training equipment and materials

We may ask you to provide the following documents if you are:

a union:
- a copy of your active relevant collective agreements representing Red Seal trades workers
an organization managing training trust funds for unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades:
- a copy of an active agreement with a union representing Red Seal trades workers, and
- documentation that demonstrates the union’s eligibility, such as a copy of active relevant collective agreements representing Red Seal trades workers
a training provider:
- copies of current course offerings that clearly indicate:
  - technical training for Red Seal trades apprenticeships – including the trade name and the level of technical training
  - information regarding the number of apprentices in Red Seal trades trained annually
  - an attestation letter from the apprenticeship training authority in the jurisdiction where you operate

How we assess your application

We may refuse applications that are incomplete or contain errors

We will contact you to request any mandatory information if it is missing from your application. We will do this before we determine if your application is eligible. If you receive such a request, you must respond within 5 business days of the date we sent the request. If you do not respond before the deadline, we will review your application with the information on file. This could result in your application being screened out.

Assessing for eligibility

We will assess the eligibility of your application, based on whether your:

organization is eligible
application package is complete, including
- application for funding form
- budget detail template
- quote from all vendors for the purchase of training equipment and materials
project targets training for pre-apprentices and apprentices in the Red Seal trades, including the number of participants expected to be reached
*Note: Projects must target training for apprentices. Pre-apprentices can be included in the project but are not required.
project activities are eligible and support the program objective of purchasing equipment or material that will enhance the quality of training of pre-apprentices and apprentices
expenditures are eligible and support project activities
project supports trades that are designated under the Interprovincial Standard Red Seal Program
cash contribution from sources other than the Government of Canada is equal to or more than 50%. If your cash contribution is equal to 30% you must provide a justification.

It is important to submit a complete application. All eligibility requirements must be met to be considered for funding. As priorities may change over time, please visit this page regularly to stay updated on eligibility requirements and priorities.

However, we may give priority to projects that:

are submitted by unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades or organizations managing training trust funds for unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades, for example:
- a joint training trust fund set up by a union, or
- a union and an employer association
purchase equipment and materials that support the development of environmental skills for pre-apprentices and apprentices in Red Seal trades
support the training of pre-apprentices and apprentices in one of 30 Red Seal trades linked to the residential construction sector
*Note: Projects must target training for apprentices. Pre-apprentices can be included in the project but are not required.
have activities supporting projects in a variety of regions (except Quebec). This includes projects with activities taking place in remote locations.
support current and emerging Government of Canada priorities (as these may change, please visit this page regularly to stay updated on current priorities)

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