IN THE TRADES PROGRAM INVESTS IN THE FUTURE OF UNIONIZED SKILLED TRADES

Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) are connecting first-year apprentices of the Red Seal Program, a program that sets Canada-wide trades skill standards, with small and medium-sized contractors across Canada through a federally funded In The Trades program. 

In the Trades program provides financial and training incentives for unionized Canadian contractors who hire, onboard, train, and retain skilled trades first-year apprentices. Specifically, union contractors can receive $5,000 for new first-year apprentices and $10,000 for onboarding apprentices from traditionally underrepresented groups. 

Union contractors must meet the following program requirements to participate:

•    Have less than 500 employees at the time of application,
•    Hire a first-year apprentice in one of the 39 approved trades,
•    Legal agreement must pre-date the hiring of the first-year apprentice.

The contractor is eligible for the additional $5,000 if the first-year apprentice is from at least one of the following underrepresented groups: 

•    women,
•    persons with disabilities, 
•    indigenous peoples,
•    members of the LGBTQ2+ communities,
•    newcomers (new immigrants), 
•    visible minorities.

“This program is an essential investment in the future of our skilled trades,” said BAC Canada Regional Director Craig Strudwick.

To learn more about the program or request more information, please click here.