A paid skilled trade placement program is coming for Canadian youth

The federal government of Canada has unveiled plans to offer paid, four-month internships for young Canadians to enter the skilled trades sector, with Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu revealing the initiative on Friday. The program, set to commence in early 2027, is expected to cost $880 million over a five-year period. This new scheme is part of a broader $8 billion commitment made by the Liberal government in the spring economic statement, aimed at promoting careers in skilled trades.

Hajdu highlighted that this initiative will open doors to meaningful employment opportunities, enabling young Canadians to contribute to the construction of homes, infrastructure, and major projects across the nation. Successful apprentices who complete their apprenticeship and earn certification in a Red Seal trade will be eligible for a $5,000 completion bonus later this fall, with the bonus also available to those who attain their certification from April 1, 2025, onwards. Employment and Social Development Canada announced this additional incentive.

A new program, the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service, will be launched later this fall, connecting jobseekers with small and medium-sized businesses offering apprenticeships. Companies that participate in this program may receive up to $10,000 in grants to support their hiring efforts. Additionally, Hajdu introduced the Apprenticeship Training Grant, which will commence in spring 2027.

This grant will provide apprentices attending mandatory in-class technical training with a $400 weekly stipend, in addition to Employment Insurance benefits.

The federal government anticipates that Canada will witness more than 1.4 million job openings in the skilled trades between 2024 and 2033, according to their estimates. The government is also engaged in discussions with provinces and territories to establish bilateral agreements, which could allocate $2 billion in federal funding to enhance access to pre-apprenticeship and technical training programs.