GATINEAU, QC, June 21,
2024 /CNW/ - Canadian tradespeople are working
hard to ensure Canada wins the
global race for economic opportunity, as we
advance towards net-zero while also charting a path to sustainably
building over 3.8 million new homes by 2031. The Government of
Canada is investing to ensure our
workforce is ready to help build these homes, clean power plants,
electric vehicles, and much more.
Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and
Official Languages, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, alongside
Ministers Wilkinson and O'Regan, launched a call for proposals
under the new Sustainable Jobs Stream of the Canadian
Apprenticeship Strategy's Union Training and
Innovation Program (UTIP). An investment
of over $95 million over five years
will help unions and their partners provide green training to
approximately 20,000 apprentices and journeypersons. This call for
proposals will be open until September 5,
2024.
As part of this funding, a separate agreement with the
Government of Quebec will support
the Province in implementing a program that accounts for the unique
features of Quebec's
apprenticeship system. The activities funded in Quebec will align with those delivered
elsewhere in Canada.
Through this investment, tradespeople will be better
equipped to keep pace with the job skills that are in high demand,
as industries shift to low-carbon alternatives, and global partners
seek to buy Canadian clean technologies. This call for
proposals complements the investment in the
Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, which support
tens of thousands of workers to upgrade or gain new skills for jobs
in the low-carbon economy.
The UTIP Sustainable Jobs Stream is part of a new focus
under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy to
respond to the skilled trades workforce's most pressing
needs, including addressing barriers to
successful entry, supporting progression and completion of
apprenticeship, addressing the housing crisis, and increasing
net-zero construction to unlock Canada's economic potential.
To help address the growing need for skilled trades
workers, Budget 2024 announced the Government's intention to
deliver a historic $90
million investment for the Apprenticeship Service to support
small and medium-sized employers in creating placements for
apprentices and $10 million for the
Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program to encourage
Canadians to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled
trades.
The Government of Canada
invests nearly $1 billion annually in
apprenticeship supports through grants, loans, tax credits,
Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project
funding, and support for the Red Seal program to help build a
robust skilled trades workforce for the future that is
inclusive, certified and productive.
As part of the Government of Canada's Sustainable Jobs Plan, today's call
for proposals under the Union Training and Innovation Program
represents a vital contribution to a suite of measures that is
unlocking Canadian leadership in growing low-carbon industries, and
creating good-paying, sustainable jobs from coast to coast to
coast.
Quotes
"Skilled tradespeople carry out
crucial work to reduce our greenhouse gas
emissions. Investing in the Sustainable Jobs Stream will help
thousands of workers across Canada
develop the skills needed for green jobs – meaning more work for
Canadians and a lower carbon footprint for the
country."
– Minister of Employment,
Workforce Development and Official Languages,
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault
"Canadian workers and industries are seizing economic
opportunities as we build thriving low-carbon industries and more
sustainable communities. This call for proposals under the Union
Training and Innovation Program will contribute to Canada's Sustainable Jobs plan while equipping
more Canadian tradespeople with the skills and supports they need
to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for Canada."
– Minister of
Energy and Natural Resources, The Honourable Jonathan
Wilkinson
"There are so many new jobs and new opportunities in
Canadian energy. Workers want in. They're ready to lead the world
and build Canada's prosperous
future. With training led by workers themselves, they
will."
– Minister of Labour and Seniors, The
Honourable Seamus O'Regan Jr
Quick Facts
- The UTIP Sustainable Jobs Stream and the
Sustainable Jobs Training Fund are part of
Canada's comprehensive sustainable
jobs approach, as outlined in the Canadian Sustainable Jobs
Act and interim Sustainable Jobs Plan
for 2023–2025, which guides Canada's efforts to move to a net-zero
emissions economy.
- Bill C-50, the Canadian Sustainable Jobs
Act has now received Royal Assent, paving the way
for workers, industries, Indigenous peoples and other Canadians to
engage with Canada's Sustainable
Jobs Partnership Council and Secretariat in the development of the
2025 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan. This historic legislation holds
current and future governments accountable while charting a path
for Canadian workers to thrive and succeed on the path to a more
sustainable and prosperous future.
- Some examples of industries where tradespeople with green
training are required include in low-carbon building construction,
clean energy deployment, and across the zero-emission vehicles and
battery supply chain. Home retrofits and new builds increasingly
require construction workers to be equipped with specialized skills
to work on energy efficient high-performing buildings. Automotive
service technicians need skills to work with electric and hybrid
vehicles.
- According to a Canadian Labour Congress and Pembina
Institute report, clean energy jobs could make up approximately 10%
of employment, or a total of 2 million direct and indirect jobs, in
a 2050 net-zero scenario.
- The Royal Bank of Canada
estimates that building a net-zero-emissions economy could create
up to 400,000 new jobs in Canada
by the end of this decade alone.
- According to data from the Education and Labour Market
Longitudinal Platform, more than half of apprentices in Red Seal
trades in Canada in 2021 worked in
the construction sector, the majority of which contributed to the
construction of homes.
- BuildForce Canada's data suggests the residential
construction sector will be short 41,200 workers over the next 10
years.
- According to a 2022 Royal Bank report, approximately 40%
of new jobs in the trades, transport and equipment occupations will
need an enhanced skillset.
Associated
Links
UTIP Sustainable Jobs Stream – Apply for
funding
About the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy
About the Union Training and Innovation Program
Sustainable Jobs Training Fund
Sustainable Jobs – Natural Resources Canada
Canada's 2030 Emissions
Reduction Plan
Budget 2024
Canada.ca/skilled-trades
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Backgrounder
Union Training and Innovation Program –
Sustainable Jobs Stream
The Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) is
delivered under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, which aims to
support a trade workforce that is skilled, inclusive, certified and
productive. UTIP supports union-based apprenticeship training,
innovation and enhanced partnerships in the Red Seal
trades.
The new Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP)
Sustainable Jobs Stream supports the Government's
Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act and interim
2023-2025 Sustainable Jobs Plan and will invest $95 million over five years to fund projects that
support unions in leading the development of green training for
workers in the trades.
Projects will:
- develop and deliver green training for journeypersons and
apprentices in the Red Seal trades that will help to reduce
Canada's emissions,
- enhance partnerships in the Red Seal trades to support a
robust trade and apprenticeship ecosystem in
Canada.
Green training aims to:
- support the development of knowledge, competencies and
experience needed to enable environmental sustainability of
economic activities;
- contribute to reducing pollution;
- contribute to natural resources conservation; or,
- support sustainable and resource-efficient projects.
Green training can include:
- technical knowledge and skills that are specialized and
specific, often required to perform new tasks or jobs as a result
of changes in greener technologies, practices, or standards. For
example, skills to install and maintain heat
pumps.
- knowledge of environmental sustainability concepts,
systems, processes, or practices, such as
environmental regulations, resource-efficient
production processes and systems, environmental awareness, or waste
management, to support the application and adaptation
of current trade activities, skills, and knowledge.
For example, industrial Mechanics (Millwrights) will gain knowledge
on renewable energy systems, such as hydroelectric generation
plants or wind turbines, to install, repair, and maintain
equipment.
As part of this funding, a separate agreement with
the Government of Quebec (in French only)
will support the Province in implementing a program that accounts
for the unique features of Quebec's apprenticeship system.
The activities funded in Quebec will align with those delivered
elsewhere in Canada.
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada