The College of Carpenters and Allied Trades (CCAT) will use almost a million dollars from the federal government to enhance various training programs.
Funding announced recently will be used to establish an diversify the delivery model for five courses traditionally taught in the classroom to apprentices and journey carpenters, addressing significant challenges that have affected apprenticeship outcomes for women, newcomers, and persons with disabilities.
“The College of Carpenters and Allied Trades is very grateful for the federal government’s UTIP investment over the next four years,” CCAT executive director Cristina Selva. “This investment will be used to support the development of online learning courses as a means of supporting a more diverse and highly skilled carpentry workforce.”
The project is being funded through the Government of Canada’s $62 million investment over five years to help build a skilled trades workforce, and in particular through the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), supporting union-based apprenticeship training and works to reduce barriers to participation and success in Red Seal trades.
Through the UTIP, the Government of Canada provides $25 million annually to support union-based apprenticeship training, innovation and enhanced partnerships in the Red Seal trades.
In its 2021 budget, the Government of Canada proposed to provide $470 million over three years, beginning in 2021–2022, to establish a new Apprenticeship Service.
Efforts to diversity Red Seal trades includes $10,000 for employers who hire from under-represented groups such as women, racialized Canadians, and persons with disabilities.
Between 2019 and 2028, about 700,000 skilled trades workers are also expected to retire. Meeting these demands will require the recruitment and training of thousands of additional skilled workers.
Demand for skilled tradespeople is expected to remain strong post-pandemic.