Patty Hajdu, federal Minister of Jobs and Families and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, has announced that the first programs under the federal government’s Team Canada Strong initiative will become accessible to Canadians this fall.
The first initiative, Team Canada Strong Youth Placements, is now accepting Expressions of Interest from organizations that help connect young Canadians with paid opportunities in the skilled trades, according to a government release.
Starting in early 2027, participating youth will be eligible for paid job placements of up to four months. The placements are intended to provide hands-on experience while allowing young Canadians to explore potential careers in the skilled trades.
Organizations interested in delivering the program have until Oct. 23 to submit an Expression of Interest. The initiative is backed by an $880 million investment over five years.
The second measure targets tradespeople who complete an apprenticeship and obtain certification in one of the eligible Red Seal trades designated by their province or territory. Beginning later this fall, eligible workers will be able to apply for a $5,000 completion bonus. The payment will also be available to individuals who received their certification on or after April 1, 2025.
A third component, the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service, is scheduled to launch later this fall. The program will help connect apprentices with employment opportunities at small and medium-sized employers, the release says.
Employers that hire a first-year apprentice in an eligible Red Seal trade will be able to receive up to $10,000 to help support the hire and enable apprentices to continue their training.
The fourth initiative, the Apprenticeship Training Grant, is expected to launch in spring 2027. It will provide eligible apprentices attending mandatory in-class technical training with a $400 weekly top-up, in addition to Employment Insurance. The grant will apply to eligible weeks of technical training beginning on or after Jan. 3, 2027.
Finally, the federal government is continuing discussions with provinces and territories on new bilateral agreements under its broader $8 billion Team Canada Strong investment.
According to the release, those agreements would provide $2 billion in federal funding to expand access to pre-apprenticeship programs and technical training.
The funding is intended to help provinces and territories create additional training and apprenticeship opportunities, expanding pathways into the skilled trades across Canada.
