Federal Apprenticeship Completion Grant now available for eligible applicants

June 29, 2009

GUELPH, ONTARIO, June 29, 2009—The Honourable Gary Goodyear, Minister of State (Science and Technology), on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced that eligible apprentices may apply for the Apprenticeship Completion Grant starting July 2, 2009.

“By providing the Apprenticeship Completion Grant, our government is helping Canadians become tradespeople, thereby ensuring that we have the skilled and mobile workforce our country needs to meet the demands of our changing labour market,” said Minister of State Goodyear.

The Government of Canada is investing $40 million per year in this important program that will not only encourage people to complete their apprenticeship training and become certified tradespeople, but will also enhance their ability to work anywhere in Canada by supporting the Interprovincial Red Seal Standards Program.

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant provides $2,000 to eligible apprentices who successfully complete their apprenticeship training and receive their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after January 1, 2009.

Under the existing Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, apprentices are already eligible for a $1,000 grant when they complete the first and/or second level of their apprenticeship program in a designated Red Seal trade, to a maximum of $2,000. To date, more than 100,000 grants have been issued to Canadians across the country.

It is estimated that 20,000 apprentices will benefit from the Apprenticeship Completion Grant each year upon certification in a designated Red Seal trade. Highly valued by employers, the Red Seal Program promotes a national standard for training excellence in the skilled trades.

Thanks to the two apprenticeship grants, apprentices who complete their training and become a certified journeyperson in a designated Red Seal trade could be eligible to receive a total of $4,000.

Apprentices will be able to apply for the Apprenticeship Completion Grant starting July 2, 2009, with eligibility retroactive to January 1, 2009. Application forms and further information will be available through Service Canada’s Web site at servicecanada.gc.ca/apprenticeship or by phone at 1-866-742-3644 (TTY: 1 866‑909‑9757).

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, designed to protect Canadians during the global recession and invest in Canada’s long-term growth, the Government of Canada is temporarily investing an unprecedented $8.3 billion in the Canada Skills and Transition Strategy to support workers and their families.

To enhance the availability of training, Canada’s Economic Action Plan will:

• increase funding by $1 billion for training delivered through the Employment Insurance (EI) program over two years;
• invest $500 million over two years in a Strategic Training and Transition Fund to support the particular needs of workers, whether they qualify for EI or not, including those who have been out of work for a prolonged period of time;
• provide an additional $175 million over three years to support Aboriginal skills development and training; and
• provide additional funding for key programs aimed at supporting older workers, young Canadians, apprentices and foreign credential recognition.
  

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.