By Ben Tompkins

Trades Funding

Government of Canada to provide $470 million to help first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal Trades

Aug 5, 2021 | 6:32 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Skilled tradespeople from across the country have been critical to essential sectors during the COVID-19 pandemic and their expertise is in high demand.

This demand is expected to remain high over the next 10 years, as there remains an ever-growing need to recruit and train thousands of skilled tradespeople.

The Government of Canada, however, has stepped in as they have launched a call for proposals to remove barriers and get more apprentices certified in the skilled trades.

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Employers play a fundamental role in Canada’s apprenticeship systems, however many employers, especially smaller firms, face barriers to participate in offering apprenticeship training opportunities.

“Getting that initial apprenticeship is one of the biggest challenges that students face,” says Chad Thompson, VP of Academics at CNC. This program that the federal government has announced will make it possible for companies to take on apprentices.

That program is called the Apprenticeship Service, which will provide $470 million over three years, beginning later this year or earlier next year, to help 55,000 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades connect with opportunities at small and medium-sized employers.

“We are very excited by anything that’s going to let students move on through the apprenticeship system because that has been one of the biggest barriers that students have faced. That inability to get their apprenticeship hours. If that will make this work better, it’s going to be great for students and therefore great for the college and for Northern B.C.,” says Thompson.

Also according to Thompson, this isn’t only a good thing for trades students but something that will in turn be great for these small and medium-sized businesses.

“I think there’s going to be a lot of desire on the part of the small and medium-sized businesses, which are being targeted by this program. To be able to take on these apprentices, to be able to get them started in their hours, get them further along in their careers, so that they’re ready to continue to move through the trades training system. I think it’s going to have a very significant impact and I think it’s a really positive move.”

Thompson also mentioned how crucial trades are to the economy, especially here in Northern BC.

“Trades are crucial to the Northern economy and they will continue to be crucial to the economy, not just when there are large projects going on but in terms of the day-to-day works and maintenance that exists within the entire North Central BC economy. That then makes it easier for students to get that first apprenticeship, which is going to be good for students of CNC and for the whole region in Northern B.C.