Feds pledge $900K for College of Carpenters and Allied Trades
The federal government has announced nearly $900,000 in funding to support training programs being run by the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades in Woodbridge.
The college will use the funding to establish an innovative delivery model for five courses traditionally taught in the classroom to both apprentices and journey carpenters. The delivery of this course will mitigate some significant challenges limiting apprenticeship outcomes for women, newcomers, and persons with disabilities, and increase employment opportunities and flexibility by increasing efficiency in learning.
“The College of Carpenters and Allied Trades is very grateful for the federal government’s UTIP investment over the next four years,” said executive director Cristina Selva. “This investment will be used to support the development of online learning courses as a means of supporting a more diverse and highly skilled carpentry workforce.”
The project is being funded through the Government of Canada’s $62 million investment over five years to help develop a highly qualified skilled trades workforce, and in particular through the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), which supports union-based apprenticeship training and works to reduce barriers to participation and success in Red Seal trades.
Through the UTIP, the Government of Canada provides $25 million annually to support union-based apprenticeship training, innovation and enhanced partnerships in the Red Seal trades.
In its 2021 budget, the Government of Canada proposed to provide $470 million over three years, beginning in 2021–2022, to establish a new Apprenticeship Service. The initiative aims to help 55,000 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades connect with opportunities at small and medium-sized employers. Employers could receive up to $5,000 for first-year apprenticeship opportunities to pay for costs such as salaries and training.
In addition, to increase diversity in Red Seal trades, the Government of Canada has pledged to double the incentive to $10,000 for employers who hire from under-represented groups such as women, racialized Canadians, and persons with disabilities.
Young women in particular continue to be less likely to express interest in careers in the skilled trades. According to an OECD survey, only 2 percent of 15-year-old female students indicated they were planning to pursue a career in the skilled trades.
Demand for skilled tradespeople is expected to remain strong as the economy moves toward recovery after the COVID-19 pandemic. Between 2019 and 2028, about 700,000 skilled trades workers are also expected to retire. Meeting these demands will require the recruitment and training of thousands of additional skilled workers.