The federal government plans to spend $430 million over the next five years to help unions train a new generation of workers in the skilled trades. John Zerucelli, secretary of state for labour, announced Thursday that Ottawa is opening applications for access to the new pool of funding, most which comes from an expansion to the Union Training and Innovation Program launched in 2017. The federal government says in a news release that unions and training providers will be able to apply for extra capital to expand their training facilities and other infrastructure. Expressions of interest are open until Nov. 12 and the government is looking for shovel-ready projects that can begin next spring. The government is also now accepting ongoing applications to offset the cost of equipment for training and is temporarily boosting the share it covers to 70 per cent, up from 50 per cent previously. A third application stream will fund unions’ proposals for innovative ways to attract, recruit and support trainees before and throughout the apprenticeship process. Organizations with pitches can submit a proposal to the government by Dec. 17. Nearly half of today’s funding announcement is accounted for in a previous Liberal government pledge to spend $8 billion to recruit and train up to 100,000 new skilled trades workers over the next five years. The Liberal government has focused on the skilled trades over the past year as it pursues an ambitious infrastructure agenda. Zerucelli said in a media statement that Canada needs more workers to build homes, infrastructure and major projects to boost the economy. “That’s why we’re investing in apprenticeship training facilities, modern equipment, and new approaches to training, giving more Canadians the opportunity to learn a trade, develop their skills and build Canada’s future,” he said. --- Craig Lord, The Canadian Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 15, 2026.
