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Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu speaks at an event at Hydro Ottawa earlier this month. Her government will spend $880-million to support the skilled trades through paid placements.Justin Tang/The Canadian Press
Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu says the federal government is putting $880-million behind a plan to get young workers paid, on-the-job experience in the skilled trades.
Starting early next year, young Canadians will be able to access paid job placements for up to four months to get hands-on experience before beginning an apprenticeship.
The funding comes from a bigger pot of $8-billion in spending that the Liberals have set aside since the spring economic update to promote the skilled trades across Canada.
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The federal government has stressed the importance of recruiting and training a new generation of skilled tradespeople – such as carpenters, electricians and welders.
As part of that regime, later this fall, any tradesperson who has completed an apprenticeship and earned a certification in a Red Seal trade since April, 2025, will also receive a $5,000 bonus.
The federal government will roll out a program over the fall to help small- and medium-sized businesses offer more apprenticeships and Ottawa also plans to top up employment insurance payments for apprentices during training starting next spring.