The federal government is rolling out a new investment designed to help address skilled labour shortages across the country.
During Friday’s event at Klimit Mechanical in Thunder Bay, Federal Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu highlighted a commitment of up to $258.6 million over five years, with $50 million in ongoing annual funding, through the Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund (SWIF).
Hajdu said the program will fund industry-lead projects that help key sectors and regions recruit and train skilled workers in Red Seal-certified positions.
“What we’re trying to do is drive training to be more efficient and suited to the way things are done today. Sometimes people go for training and learn skills that don’t align with industry needs. Let’s not waste people’s time. Let’s make sure that our trainees have the exact skillset they need for the way business is conducted today.”
Hajdu acknowledged that attracting and retaining apprentices has been a challenge for many years.
“Not only do less and less people choose a path in the trades, but getting through the completion of the trades can be really challenging. Could we be looking at ways to accelerate the training? Are there different ways to conceptualize the blocks of training that go into the journey? All of that is going to be driven with industry and in partnership with training institutions and unions.”
The federal government began accepting applications for the Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund on August 28, with projects evaluated on an ongoing basis.
Hajdu also promoted the federal government’s upcoming National Heat Pump Rebate Program set to launch in 2027, which she said will help Canadians transition to more energy-efficient heating systems while creating additional demand for skilled trades workers.
Under the program, middle- and lower-income homeowners will be eligible for rebates of up to $10,000 toward the installation of a heat pump, while other homeowners can receive a $2,000 rebate. Hajdu said the online application process is intended to speed up replacements when furnaces fail unexpectedly.
“We’ve got a system that’s really fast, so we’ll be able to get people approvals very quickly so that they can make that decision and move forward.”
The minister said the funding announcement and heat pump program are closely linked, as both rely on a larger pool of skilled trades workers to succeed.
“We also talked about an investment in industry-led training so that we can continue the work that we’ve been doing to get more people through the trades, more installers, more sheet metal experts, plumbers and fitters, the kinds of professionals that are needed for the ambition of the country. Behind every major project and every retrofitted home are skilled workers.”
The minister said the federal government’s broader Team Canada Strong initiative includes employer incentives to help businesses hire first-year apprentices and funding to expand training opportunities at colleges and polytechnics.
