What this program offers

On this page

• Program objectives
• Funding priorities
• Glossary

Program objectives

We’ll fund a series of projects offering free or low-cost training. This training will help workers upgrade or gain new skills for jobs in the low-carbon economy. Projects must focus on 1 of the following 3 priorities:

• low-carbon energy and carbon management

As opportunities grow in a net-zero future to use new and existing technologies, the fund will support projects to help workers develop skills for jobs in energy-related sectors. These sectors include wind, solar, geothermal, hydrogen (including vehicles and related infrastructure) and other low-carbon fuels. It will also support skills development for jobs in carbon management, such as carbon capture, utilization, and storage.

• green buildings and retrofits

The Fund will support projects that help train a workforce to build and retrofit homes and buildings to reduce energy consumption and achieve low-carbon performance. This includes, but isn’t limited to, installing low-carbon heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment (including heat pumps), energy efficient components, or renewable energy systems.

• electric vehicle maintenance and charging infrastructure

The global and domestic mandates for electric vehicles (EVs) are resulting in the need to build and support charging infrastructure across Canada, as well as offer accessible and affordable automotive maintenance for this new type of vehicle. The Fund will support projects that help train the workforce across Canada to support the country’s transition to EVs with a focus on repairing and maintaining EVs, as well as charging infrastructure.

Funding priorities

The Government of Canada is taking significant action in response to climate change. As new industries emerge and existing industries pivot to reduce emissions, workers will need to adapt and reskill. By directing investments towards the most critical workforce needs within key sectors, the fund can have an impact on important labour supply pressure points.

In order to select a diverse range of projects and ensure that the fund will provide the most important opportunities for the low-carbon economy, we may prioritize projects that:

• help ensure the fund has sufficient projects in each priority area
• align with federal government economic and climate priorities
• target key sectors and/or occupations required for the low-carbon economy
• maximize geographic coverage across the country
• maximize the number of participants trained through the Fund
• increase the participation of Indigenous Peoples and/or members of equity-deserving groups
• support the offering of training in both official languages, and
• scale up existing successful initiatives

Glossary

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

2SLGBTQI+

Initialism for 2-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, + (inclusive of people who identify as part of sexual and gender diverse communities, who use additional terminologies)

Demand-driven

Demand-driven refers to initiatives designed to help workers obtain skills through targeted training and services in direct response to the unique needs of a given sector or industry

Equity-deserving groups

Communities who have faced significant systemic inequality or other barriers to full and equal participation in the labour market and society. For the purposes of the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, equity-deserving groups include women, persons with disabilities, racialized Canadians or visible minorities, newcomers and members of the 2SLGBTQI+ community

Indigenous Peoples

• First Nations
• Inuit
• Métis
• Urban/Non-Affiliated people

Milestones

Significant events or points of progress during the project

Newcomers

An immigrant or permanent resident who has been in Canada for less than 5 years

Outcomes

The short-term and medium-term changes that you expect the project to deliver. You can link more than one outcome to an objective. Outcomes answer the questions, “How do we know the project is a success?” and “How do the activities address the workforce needs of Canadian workers and employers?”

Outputs

Direct products or services that you’ll produce to get the outcomes you want. They answer the question, “What will the project produce?”

Partnerships

Partnerships are defined as agreements (formal or informal) between two or more parties to cooperate via financial or in kind contribution, to advance their mutual interests

Performance Indicators

Measurable values that show the progress of the project towards its objectives, expected results and performance results

Persons with disabilities

A person with a disability is one who self-identifies as having a:

• permanent physical, or
• mental disability that restricts their ability to do daily activities

Small and medium-sized enterprises

Small and medium-sized enterprises are businesses with up to 500 employees. Large-sized enterprises are businesses with more than 500 employees

Wrap-around supports

A set of supports or services provided to an individual, particularly, though not exclusively, from an equity-deserving group. These supports or services are necessary to remove barriers to their participation in the project. The types of supports or services provided depends on the individual’s level of need, as determined by the project proponent. Wrap-around supports may include but aren’t limited to:

• temporary childcare and/or dependent care costs
• temporary accommodation
• public transportation to and from project activities
• access to technology relevant to project participation