PRIME Minister Mark Carney on Wednesday outlined a new $6 billion nationwide effort — Team Canada Strong — to recruit, train, and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers in the next five years.
The government says the global trade landscape is rapidly changing. In response, it is focused on what it can control: building a stronger, more resilient, more independent Canadian economy. At the core of this strategy is an ambitious plan to build nation-building projects, more affordable homes, new defence industries, and stronger local infrastructure.
To build the next port, bridge, mine, or data centre, Canada needs more welders, crane operators, and electricians – a strong skilled trades workforce. Many young Canadians want to join the trades, but are discouraged by the long wait times, lack of opportunities, and high cost of training.
Announced as part of the Spring Economic Update, Team Canada Strong will:
* Recruit:
– The government will deploy $2 billion to support young Canadians with paid, job-ready placements that lead directly into registered apprenticeships.
– This investment will also support the launch of the Build Canada Apprenticeship Service to provide up to $10,000 for an apprentice’s first-year salary, match apprentices to job opportunities, and offer direct navigation and support to help employers hire, train, and retain apprentices.
* Train:
– The government will boost and modernise apprenticeship training to expedite Red Seal certification with $331 million in funding over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $18 million ongoing.
– It will digitise the Red Seal Program, introducing online exams, digital logbooks, and secure credentials to reduce certification timelines, including by creating a single national registered apprenticeship number.
– It will expand the Union Training and Innovation Program to enable union-run training centres to upgrade facilities, expand capacity, and invest in modern equipment.
* Hire:
– The government will provide $3.4 billion over five years, starting in 2026-27, and $468 million ongoing to address the challenges that can stop apprentices from completing their training and moving into permanent jobs.
– It will offer a one-time $5,000 apprenticeship completion bonus to those that obtain certification in a Red Seal trade.
– With the Apprenticeship Training Grant, we will provide a $400 weekly top-up while apprentices attend mandatory in-class technical training.
This represents a total payment of up to $16,000 per apprentice, paid in addition to Employment Insurance.
* Team Canada Strong will deliver:
– End-to-end support: Supporting young Canadians every step of the way, from first interest to first job to Red Seal certification.
– Faster results: Goal of cutting the time it takes to get certified by 50%.
– A multi-channel approach: The government will train more workers, faster, working with its partners – other orders of government, Indigenous partners, unions, businesses, and the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF).
– The scale to deliver: An ambitious $6 billion investment in Team Canada Strong.
In addition, the government will expand Canada’s skilled trades training capacity through the CAF with $250 million in funding. It will enhance the Cadets and Junior Canadian Rangers programs to provide hands-on training and early exposure to the trades. It will launch the Reserve Trades Experience Pilot Program, offering fully funded trades training for Canadians who commit to serve in the Primary Reserve.
Carney said that with rapid-scale, high-quality training and end-to-end supports, Team Canada Strong will transform the skilled trades, bring more apprentices into the workforce, and ensure young Canadians are ready to build the homes, energy projects, ports, arenas, and defence industries we need. The government is creating clear, paid pathways for young Canadians into good careers, strengthening Canada’s future workforce, and ensuring it can build Canada strong for all.
