How we assess your application

We may refuse applications that are incomplete or contain errors

We'll contact you to request any mandatory information if it is missing from your application. We'll do this before we determine if your application is eligible. If you receive such a request, you must respond within 5 business days of the date we sent the request. If you don't respond before the deadline, we'll assess your application with the information on file. This could result in your application being screened out.

We'll review your application in 3 steps.

Step 1: Screening for eligibility

We'll screen for eligibility based on whether:

Your application package is complete

Your application package includes all the following:

application:
- received by 3:00 pm, Eastern Standard Time (EST) on December 17, 2026
- completed in full
- attestation in Part 4 is completed
application package includes the following supporting documents:
- a completed Budget Detail Template
- at least two proofs of partnerships, such as a letter of partnership, written by each partner that clearly outlines all the following elements:
  - location of the partner organizations
  - roles and responsibilities of the partner in the project
  - activities that will be carried out by the partner
  - any cash and/or in-kind contributions
  - other resources committed to the project, if any
  - the duration of the partnership
  - signed by the partner
  - signed by the applicant organization
- quotes from all vendors only if you purchase training equipment or materials to train participants

Note : An exception to the partnership requirement may be considered where an applicant organization is only able to secure one partner. The applicant organization must provide a clear justification demonstrating that more than 50% of project activities are affected by one or more of the following barriers:

Your organization is eligible

Your organization is eligible if they meet all the following (Part 1 of the Application for Funding form):

is located in Canada (excluding Quebec)
is 1 of the following eligible types:
- a union representing workers in the Red Seal trades
- an organization managing training trust funds for unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades, for example:
  - a joint training trust fund set up by a union
  - a joint training trust fund set up by a union and an employer association
- not-for-profit organization
- for-profit organization (provided that the nature and intent of the activity is non-commercial, not intended to generate profit, and supports program priorities and objectives)
- municipal government
- Indigenous organization, including:
  - band council
  - tribal council
  - self-government entities
- provincial or territorial government, such as:
  - agency
  - institution
  - crown corporation

Note to organizations located and operating in Quebec and Alberta

Organizations in the Province of Quebec can't apply for this program. The Government of Canada has a separate funding agreement with the Government of Quebec (in French only). The funding supports the Province in implementing a program that accounts for the unique features of Quebec's apprenticeship system.

Organizations in the Province of Alberta may apply to this program provided they obtain approval from the Government of Alberta before entering into an agreement with ESDC.

Organizations located and operating in the Province of Alberta must contact Alberta Municipal Affairs to make sure their application meets the requirements of the Provincial Priorities Act (PPA). Meeting these requirements is necessary for your project application to be retained, assessed, and potentially funded by the department. For more information, refer to the Provincial Priorities Act fact sheet.

Your project is eligible

Your project must meet all the following eligibility criteria (Part 2 and Part 3 of the Application for Funding form):

Your project focuses on one or more of the following themes:
- Apprenticeship Awareness and Entry Readiness in the Skilled Trades
  - This theme supports individuals in discovering, preparing for, and transitioning into Red Seal apprenticeship programs. It combines career exploration, learning, hands-on experience, and support services to encourage more people to pursue a career into skilled trades.
- Apprenticeship Training and Other Supports
  - This theme aims to improve the quality of apprenticeship training in the skilled trades to produce a highly skilled, certified, and productive trades workforce by strengthening technical training, providing learner supports, and guiding individuals throughout the apprenticeship journey to certification.
- Red Seal Certification and beyond
  - This theme aims to retain skilled trades workers by providing supports to encourage certification in Red Seal trades, and by supporting journeypersons to strengthen their expertise to continue growing in their trade by adapting to industry changes or for mentoring the next generation of skilled trades workers.
You have identified how your project will address one or more barriers for each theme your project is focusing on.
You have at least 2 partnerships with organizations located in Canada (except Quebec) for the full duration of your project.

Your project targets at least 1 of the 54 Red Seal trades.
Your project includes at least one of these participants:

Note: Your project can include other skilled trades workers in the Red Seal trades as participants, but it must focus primarily on either pre-apprentices, apprentices, or journeypersons or any combination of these 3 groups. Make sure your application specifies clearly the groups targeted.

Your project supports at least one of the following equity-deserving groups :
You have cash and/or in-kind contributions that is equal to or more than 10% of the total cost of the project from sources other than the Government of Canada

Note : If your project includes the purchase of training equipment and materials that directly supports your project's objectives, you have a cash contribution equal to or more than 30% of the cost of the new, up-to-date equipment and materials. You'll also need to provide a quote for the purchase of training equipment and materials. A quote is required from each vendor, and it must include details of all equipment and materials to be purchased.

It is important to submit a complete application. We'll assess your project only if all the eligibility requirements are met.

Note : Applicants may submit more than one proposal. The Department may consider funding other organizations from various locations before funding the same organization more than once.

Things that may impact your eligibility

Your past performance or issues of default in projects with ESDC may impact the eligibility of your application.

When determining the eligibility of your application, ESDC may review information in the public domain including, but not limited to, materials on your website and media articles.

Step 2: Assessing on program objectives

We'll assess your application based on the following criteria:

Project objectives

Relevance and alignment with program objective (question 56)
- The labour market needs are clearly described, with a strong explanation of how they are aligned with your project objectives.
- Your project objectives are clearly linked with those of the Union Training and Innovation Program's (UTIP) - Innovation stream including:
  - support the modernization of apprenticeship training by helping apprentices, unions, and training providers adapt to evolving construction methods, technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools that enhance productivity and meet the future needs of the construction sector
  - attracting and recruiting more people to pursue a career in the Red Seal trades
  - helping remove obstacles that make it harder for pre-apprentices and apprentices to start, continue, or complete an apprenticeship in the Red Seal trades
  - supporting apprentices in achieving certification and journeypersons in strengthening their expertise to train the next generation of tradespeople
  - helping pre-apprentices, apprentices, and journeypersons, including those from equity-deserving groups, in finding, keeping, and advancing in jobs
- Specific gaps and barriers are well-defined and supported by relevant data, evidence, or lived experience demonstrating how they affect the recruitment, retention, or success of pre-apprentices, apprentices, or journeypersons in the skilled trades workforce.
Project objectives and proposed solution (question 56)
- Your proposed solution is clearly described and is relevant to the identified barriers and challenges and aligned with labour market needs.
- You have explained why your proposed approach is expected to be effective, supported by a strong rationale for the chosen model.
Partnership and Stakeholders Engagement (questions 56 and 64)
- You have clearly described how and why you selected your project partners.
- Your partners' roles and responsibilities are well defined and meaningfully contribute to achieving your projects objectives and results.
- Relevant stakeholders who may have an interest in your project or its outcomes are identified, and their potential contributions to the project's success are clearly described.

Project activities

Your project activities are appropriate for achieving your project objectives. (questions 56 and 57)
Your project activities are organized in a logical order and demonstrate how effectively they work together to achieve the planned results. (question 57)
Your project timelines are clear and realistic, and demonstrate a strong likelihood of successful delivery within the proposed timeframe. (question 57)
Activities that will be delivered by your partners are clearly identified. (questions 57 and 64)

Project results

Your expected results are clearly linked to your project objectives. (question 58)
Your expected results are defined as clear, specific and measurable outputs and outcomes. (question 58)
Your plan to collect, measure, and report on results is clear and realistic. (question 58)
Your Results Measurement Indicators are well connected to your outcomes. (question 59)
You provide the expected number of participants for each of the following categories your project aims to reach (question 58):
- total number of pre-apprentices to be reached
- total number of apprentices to be reached
- total number of journeypersons to be reached
- total number of other skilled trade workers to be reached

You give details on the outputs your project will deliver (question 58)
You describe your expected outcomes and how they link to your project objectives (question 58)
You explain how you'll track, measure, and report on results (question 59)

Budget

You detail costs incurred by your project and demonstrate that they link to your project activities (questions 72 to 78 and Budget Detail Template )
You present costs that are eligible and at fair market value (questions 72 to 78 and Budget Detail Template )
You identify the other sources of funding, and which costs they cover (questions 66 to 75 and Budget Detail Template )

Step 3: Assessing on other criteria to select a diverse range of projects to fund

We may give priority to projects that:

use Canadian suppliers, materials, or content
are led by a union representing Red Seal workers, an organization managing training trust funds for a union representing Red Seal workers, or projects that includes a union as a partner
develop the skilled trades workforce, training innovations, and apprenticeship pathways required to meet labour demands associated with major projects approved by the Canada Major Projects Office (MPO), which may involve projects of national interest
increase the availability, capacity, and diversity of Red Seal construction trades critical to Canada's growing (residential) housing needs
deliver activities in two or more provinces or territories (excluding Quebec) or

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2026-10-16