Canada’s New Government Issues First $1,000 Cheques for Apprenticeship Incentive Grant

EDMONTON, ALBERTA–(April 4, 2007) – The Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, today presented one of the first $1,000 cheques for the new Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, at Waiward Steel Fabricators, in Edmonton, Alberta.

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant is a taxable cash grant available to registered apprentices who have completed their first or second year in a Red Seal trade program, on or after January 1, 2007. It will help apprentices achieve their goals by offsetting the costs of tuition, travel and tools.

“We support the skilled trades and are committed to making apprenticeships more affordable and more accessible,” said Minister Solberg. “With this cheque, Canada’s New Government is delivering on its commitment to help individuals build a better and stronger future. The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant will help get skilled workers into the Canadian workforce where and when they are needed.””Waiward has always made apprenticeship an everyday part of its business,” said Mr. Donald J. Oborowsky, Co-owner, President and Chief Executive Officer of Waiward Steel Fabricators Ltd. “Apprenticeship is a key to having the best people in the industry who give us a competitive advantage in having the safest, most productive company, manufacturing the best quality product in the marketplace. While some may look at it as a cost to apprentice, I view it as a cost not to apprentice.”

“It is vital that we support apprenticeship programs and recognize their importance as a model of post-secondary training,” said Ms. Allison Rougeau, Executive Director of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. “Research undertaken by the Forum shows that costs associated with tuition, travel, tools and income interruption may pose challenges for a successful experience. This new grant is a step in the right direction. It will help ensure that we have the skilled, high quality and productive work force we need to succeed.”

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant is one of the measures introduced by Canada’s New Government to assist apprentices, tradespeople and employers in the skilled trades sector. Effective May 2006, the government introduced a Tradesperson’s Tools Deduction to help eligible tradespeople across the country to save on the cost of work-related tools. It also introduced an Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit to provide employers with up to $2,000 per apprentice for each of the first two years of their contract.

In Budget 2006 Canada’s New Government invested more than $500 million over two years to support apprentices and skilled tradespersons, including the new Apprenticeship Incentive Grant program investment of $125 million.

Application forms for the grant are available at Service Canada Centres and on the Internet. Service Canada is responsible for processing applications and delivering cheques.

It is estimated that, annually, up to 100,000 apprentices in Canada will be entitled to receive this taxable cash grant.

For more information on the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, visit the following Web site: http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca, call 1-866-742-3644 (TTY 1-866-909-9757), or visit your local Service Canada Centre.

BACKGROUNDER

INTERPROVINCIAL STANDARDS RED SEAL PROGRAM

As a work-based system of training and certification that is well-established in Canada, apprenticeship contributes to the development of a skilled labour force. Developing and maintaining national occupational standards and examinations for the Red Seal trades help to address challenges brought about by changing labour market requirements.

Provinces and territories have the legal authority to designate trades occupations for apprenticeship and are responsible for training and certification matters.

Interprovincial Mobility

The Red Seal Program, delivered in partnership with the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship, was established in 1952 to provide greater mobility across Canada for skilled journeypersons. Most jurisdictions have participated in the program since its inception, with the exception of Quebec, which joined the program in 1971, and Nunavut, which joined the program in 1999.

The Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program is the key to addressing mobility of trade workers. The program allows journeypersons with a Red Seal endorsement to practice their trade in any province or territory in Canada without having to write further examinations. However, in some cases, when moving from one province or territory to another, journeypersons may be required to complete a registration process prior to commencing work in a compulsory Red Seal trade.

The endorsement, a Red Seal, is affixed to a provincial/territorial Certificate of Qualification signifying the attainment of interprovincial standards for the training and certification of workers in the designated trades and occupations. The Red Seal is acquired by writing an approved interprovincial examination and attaining a minimum mark of 70 per cent. Candidates for examination must have acquired the pre-requisite training and/or work experience for the trade specified before attempting the interprovincial examination.

There are currently 49 Red Seal trades covering approximately 80 per cent of the Canadian skilled trades work force. The Interprovincial Standards Red Seal examination is the only certification examination in all but two provinces (Alberta and Quebec). In Alberta and Quebec, an apprentice is required to write the provincial examination for certification purposes, followed by the Red Seal examination for mobility purposes.

For more information on Red Seal trades, visit www.red-seal.ca.

List of Red Seal Trades
(April 2007)
– Agricultural Equipment Technician- Appliance Service Technician- Automotive Painter- Automotive Service Technician- Baker- Boilermaker- Bricklayer- Cabinetmaker- Carpenter- Concrete Finisher- Construction Craft Worker- Construction Electrician- Cook- Electric Motor System Technician- Electronics Technician (Consumer Products)- Floorcovering Installer- Glazier- Hairstylist- Heavy Duty Equipment Technician- Industrial Electrician- Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)- Instrumentation and Control Technician- Insulator (Heat and Frost)- Ironworker (Generalist)- Ironworker (Reinforcing)- Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)- Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)- Machinist- Metal Fabricator (Fitter)- Mobile Crane Operator- Motor Vehicle Body Repairer (Metal and Paint)- Motorcycle Mechanic- Oil Burner Mechanic- Painter and Decorator- Partsperson- Plumber- Powerline Technician- Recreation Vehicle Service Technician- Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic- Rig Technician- Roofer- Sheet Metal Worker- Sprinkler System Installer- Steamfitter/Pipefitter- Tilesetter- Tool and Die Maker- Transport Trailer Technician- Truck and Transport Mechanic- Welder

CONTACT INFORMATION

Human Resources and Social Development Canada
Media Relations Office
819-994-5559

or

Office of Minister Solberg
Director of Communications
819-994-2482