Who can apply
Eligibility
Applicants
Your organization must be located in Canada (excluding Quebec) and be 1 of the following types:
- Unions representing workers in Red Seal trades
- Organization managing training trust funds for a union representing workers in the Red Seal trades, for example:
- a joint training fund set up by a union
- 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 align with 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's 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.
Note: Unions and organizations managing training trust funds for a union representing workers in the Red Seal trades may be asked to provide supporting documentation that confirm their organization status, such as relevant active collective agreements, constitutions, bylaws, certification from a labour relations board, or any other pertinent official documents.
Projects
Your project must meet all the following criteria:
- your project objectives must align with 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.
- Apprenticeship Awareness and Entry Readiness in the Skilled Trades
- identifies and addresses one or more barriers for each theme that your project is focusing on
- has a minimum of 2 partnerships with organizations located in Canada (except Quebec) throughout the duration of the project
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:
- targets at least 1 of the 54 Red Seal trades
- targets at least one of these groups:
Note: Other skilled trade workers in the Red Seal trades can participate in your project activities, but your project 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.
- identifies and addresses barriers face by at least one of the following equity-deserving groups:
Determine your contribution requirements to meet eligibility criteria
If your project includes both training equipment and materials and other eligible project activities, different contribution requirements apply:
- you must contribute at least 10% of total project costs through cash, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both
- you must contribute at least 30% in cash towards the cost of training equipment and materials
Total project costs are the combined cost of training equipment and materials (if applicable) and all other eligible project activities.
When determining your contribution requirements, compare:
- the contribution required based on 10% of total project costs
- the required 30% cash contribution for training equipment and materials
If the required cash contribution for training equipment and materials is greater than the contribution required based on total project costs, you must provide the higher amount in cash.
If the contribution required based on 10% of total project costs is greater than the required cash contribution for training equipment and materials, you must provide the required 30% contribution for training equipment and materials in cash. The difference between the two amounts may be provided through cash, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both.
You can determine the amount to be provided as a cash contribution by using the calculator.
Example 1: The training equipment and materials requirement results in a higher minimum contribution
Your project includes:
- $100,000 in other eligible project activities
- $120,000 in training equipment and materials
Total project costs: $220,000
Your required contribution would be:
- $22,000 in cash and/or in-kind (10% of total project costs of $220,000)
- $36,000 in cash for training equipment and materials (30% of $120,000)
Since the required cash contribution for training equipment and materials ($36,000) is greater than the contribution required based on total project costs ($22,000), you must contribute at least $36,000 in cash towards the cost of training equipment and materials as your contribution for the overall project. The $22,000 would be included within the $36,000.
Example 2: The total project cost requirement results in a higher minimum contribution
Your project includes:
- $100,000 in other eligible project activities
- $20,000 in training equipment and materials
Total project costs: $120,000
Your required contribution would be:
- $12,000 in cash and/or in-kind (10% of total project costs of $120,000)
- $6,000 in cash for training equipment and materials (30% of $20,000)
Since the contribution required for the total project costs ($12,000) is greater than the required cash contribution for training equipment and materials ($6,000), you must contribute a total of $12,000.
Of this amount:
- at least $6,000 must be provided in cash towards the cost of training equipment and materials
- the remaining $6,000 must be provided through cash, in-kind contributions, or a combination of both
Example 3: Both requirements result in the same minimum contribution
Your project includes:
- $100,000 in other eligible project activities
- $50,000 in training equipment and materials
Total project costs: $150,000.
Your required contribution would be:
- $15,000 in cash and/or in-kind (10% of total project costs of $150,000)
- $15,000 in cash for training equipment and materials (30% of $50,000)
Since both calculations result in the same amount, you must contribute at least $15,000 in cash towards the cost of training equipment and materials. This would count as your total contribution to the project overall.
Note: If your organization receives a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) tax rebate for the purchase of equipment and materials, the rebate amount must be deducted from the total cost of the equipment and materials before calculating the required contribution. It is your responsibility to claim any CRA tax rebate for which your organization is eligible.
Activities
- Develop and implement training approaches, resources, and technologies that support the adoption of new construction methods, and artificial intelligence (AI) enabled tools in apprenticeship training
- Develop, test, evaluate and promote innovative approaches to address immediate or persistent challenges to participation and success in the Red Seal trades
- Expand, replicate, or scale best practices that support individuals to explore, prepare for, progress in, and complete pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship pathways in the Red Seal trades
- Support the participation and success of equity-deserving groups facing increased barriers in pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship in the skilled trades, such as youth, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, racialized individuals, and newcomers
- Promote careers in the skilled trades, as well as related essential skills and technologies
- Develop and use tools, approaches, or products that support learning, skills development, and workplace training, including upskilling, continuing development, mentorship in the Red Seal trades
What the funding can be used to pay for
We can only pay back eligible costs. Eligible costs must directly relate to your project activities.
Eligible costs include:
- administrative costs used to support project activities (up to 15% of ESDC's total financial support of some of your direct costs), such as:
- shared postage
- telephones
- information technology maintenance
- head office support
- staff salaries (section 3A)
- project costs (section 3C)
- partnership development costs (section 3D)
- sub-project costs (section 3F)
You aren't required to detail your administrative costs, simply list them in the budget.
Important: You are still required to keep all documentation of these costs. In the event of an audit, you will need to supply the supporting documents at that time. Exceptions to the 15% administrative cost limit could be considered in cases involving remote locations, limited access to infrastructure, limited partnership opportunities.
- costs of materials and supplies
- wages and mandatory employment-related costs for project staff
- staff training and professional development costs
- honoraria costs, including Elder fees, limited to industry standards
- travel costs, in accordance with the National Joint Council's Travel Directive
- printing and communication costs
- hospitality costs, using the Directive on Travel, Hospitality, Conference and Events Expenditures as a guiding principle
- wage subsidies for work experience and employment-related costs (50% of the wages, up to a maximum of $5,000 or 70% of wages, up to a maximum of $10,000 for equity-deserving groups who face increased barriers to enter and succeed in the skilled trades (for example, youth, women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous Peoples, members of 2SLGBTQI+ communities, racialized individuals, and newcomers)
- professional fees, such as:
- research
- evaluation
- technical expertise
- facilitation
- participant costs including, but not limited to:
- accommodation
- childcare
- transportation costs
- costs for project office equipment to support project staff, including but not limited to:
- IT equipment:
- computers
- monitors
- printers
- office equipment and supplies:
- toner and ink cartridges
- pens and pencils
- envelopes
- Furniture:
- desks
- chairs
- filing cabinets
- IT equipment:
- the costs for the purchase of training tools, equipment, materials, shipping and installation, including but not limited to:
- tools:
- hand tools
- power tools
- measuring and testing tools
- training equipment:
- welding equipment
- simulators
- rigging and hoisting equipment
- virtual reality equipment
- computers used to operate technology
- training consumables:
- sheet metal
- nails and screws
- pipes
- cement mortar
- rebar ties
- tools:
Note: To be eligible, training equipment and materials must be directly link to your project activities.