The federal government has launched a new program aimed at increasing Canada’s skilled trades workforce.
Team Canada Strong is the new measure to recruit, train and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers in the next five years.
It’s part of the spring economic update.
Saint John-Kennebecasis MP Wayne Long was at the Carpenter Millwright College in Saint John to speak about the new program.
“We see in New Brunswick a lot of youth that aren’t actually going into any specific careers and training,” Long said.
“We want to give them opportunities and certainly through our trade schools … community colleges, through universities, we want to make sure youth have pathways to the trades.”
Long said so many young people don’t understand the trades or feel they don’t get the financial support to get into a trade.
Included in the $6-billion investment are a number of financial incentives for employers and apprentices.
It means the launch of the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service, providing up to $10,000 for an apprentice’s first-year salary and matching apprentices to job opportunities.
It also means boosting and modernizing apprenticeship training to speed up Red Seal certification, including $331 million in funding over five years beginning in 2026-27 and $18 million going forward.
For the training director at the college, the announcement was a long time coming.
“I came through my apprenticeship and for a lack of better words, we didn’t have that much support going through,” said T.C. Eggleton. “You were all on your own.”
Eggleton said this kind support should mean a big increase in the number of apprentices completing their apprenticeship.
The CEO of Habitat for Humanity in New Brunswick said he’s thrilled to see the focus from the federal government on the trades.
“There’s no question there’s a significant need,” Perry Kendall said.
Kendall said there’s a growing interest in the trades and growing realization that they can provide good jobs and career opportunities.
He also said incentives for apprentices and employers are also good news.
“People need to know that as they continue their trades training and education that they’re going to continue to be able to pay their bills,” he said.
The news is also being praised by unions.
Jody Sewell, the business rep for Millwright Local 2262 in New Brunswick, said it’s the type of news everyone in New Brunswick and across the country has been waiting for.
“There’s been a lot of anticipation and anxiety around tariffs and lack of jobs and things being put on hold and just uncertainty,” Sewell said.
“To see these types of developments and investment into the trades as a whole can only benefit everyone.”
