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Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU) welcomes today’s announcement from the Minister of Jobs and Families, Patty Hajdu, that the Government of Canada’s Team Canada Strong initiatives will become available this fall, helping more young Canadians pursue good-paying, family-supporting careers in the skilled trades and strengthening the country’s apprenticeship pipeline. Apprentices should not have to choose between completing their training and meeting basic financial obligations, and these measures will provide meaningful support to help them remain in the trades and complete certification.
As part of the comprehensive package first announced in April 2026’s Spring Economic Update, the $5,000 apprenticeship completion bonus is a critically important investment in building Canada’s future. By recognizing the achievement of apprentices who earn certification in eligible Red Seal trades, and applying the bonus retroactively to those certified on or after April 1, 2025, the program will help remove financial barriers and encourage more Canadians to complete their apprenticeship journey.
The Build Canada Apprenticeship Service will also provide critical support where it is needed most. Offering small and medium-sized employers up to $10,000 for hiring a first-year apprentice will help create more opportunities for new entrants while strengthening the capacity of employers to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople.
And the planned $400 weekly top-up for eligible apprentices attending mandatory in-class technical training will help reduce the pressures associated with technical training and give apprentices a better chance to complete their training and move forward into good-paying careers.
The Team Canada Strong Youth Placements program, along with proposed investments in pre-apprenticeship and technical training, will further expand access to paid, hands-on experience and create pathways into good union careers in the skilled trades.
“Canada’s skilled trades are ready to meet the moment, but apprentices need the right supports to answer the call,” said Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions. “The completion bonus, the incentive for small and medium-sized employers hiring first-year apprentices, and the weekly top-up during in-class training are meaningful investments in skilled tradespeople and in Canada’s future. These measures will help unlock the potential of young Canadians and strengthen the skilled workforce needed to critical infrastructure and major projects our country depends on.”
CBTU is committed to supporting the successful rollout of these initiatives and ensuring that apprentices can access the training, employment and financial assistance they need to build lasting careers. With approximately 33,000 net-new skilled tradespeople needed in the construction sector by 2033, investing in apprentices today is essential to building a stronger, more resilient Canada.
