Advanced Education and Skills
November 7, 2014

Building a Strong Economy Through the Harmonization of
Apprenticeship Programs

Federal and Provincial Governments Work Together to Help Apprentices in Atlantic Canada

The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, and the Council of Atlantic Premiers today announced that apprenticeship requirements in six new trades will be harmonized across the Atlantic provinces: carpenter, welder, metal fabricator, steamfitter-pipefitter, plumber and industrial electrician. This is in addition to work that has already started on the four previously announced trades: bricklayer, cook, instrumentation and control technician, and construction electrician. As a result, Atlantic Canadians apprenticing in these 10 trades will have access to consistent training, certification and standards, leading to more job opportunities and greater mobility while helping address skills shortages in this region.

“Our government’s top priority is creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. That is why we are working with the Atlantic provinces to remove barriers caused by different apprenticeship systems; so that we can help more Canadians get the skills and experience they need and benefit from well-paid, in-demand jobs. Harmonizing apprenticeship requirements in Atlantic Canada will improve completion rates, address skills shortages and create jobs for apprentices.”
- The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development

By providing support for this project, the Federal and Provincial Governments are helping to harmonize trades that affect 60 per cent of apprentices in the Atlantic region. This will complement work already underway to harmonize training and certification requirements in an initial set of 10 targeted Red Seal trades across Canada and ensure that apprentices are getting the training and experience they need to complete their apprenticeship.

“The harmonization of apprenticeship programs being offered throughout Atlantic Canada will help increase the mobility of apprentices, as well as the efficiencies in apprenticeship systems within Newfoundland and Labrador and the other three Atlantic provinces. Our government looks forward to continuing this partnership as we move towards harmonizing 10 skilled trades, which will ultimately provide additional employment opportunities for our apprentices.”
- The Honourable Kevin O’Brien, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills

Canada currently has 13 different apprenticeship systems across the country with different requirements for training, certification and standards. These inconsistences mean that apprentices who wish to move to another province to continue or complete their training are often challenged to do so because the systems can be so different. At the same time, employers wishing to recruit new apprentices from out of province face similar challenges.

Additionally, Economic Action Plan 2014 has several measures to ensure training reflects the needs of the labour market and Canadians have the skills to take advantage of the jobs and opportunities available to them. Starting this coming January, the Canada Apprentice Loan will provide up to $4,000 in interest-free loans per period of technical training for apprentices in a Red Seal trade.

QUICK FACTS

• The Atlantic Apprenticeship Harmonization Project will focus on a new set of six trades: carpenter, welder, metal fabricator, steamfitter-pipefitter, plumber, and industrial electrician. This is in addition to four previous trades: bricklayer, cook, instrumentation and control technician, and construction electrician.
• The project received over $4.3 million from the Government of Canada and over $3.5 million from the governments of the Atlantic provinces.
• This initiative, which is a first in Canada, will ensure apprentices can more easily train and work towards completing their certification anywhere in Canada.
• Western provinces have also initiated work to identify and remove barriers to apprentice mobility.
• At the national level, the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship has undertaken work to align apprenticeship requirements in 10 Red Seal trades.

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Media contacts:

Michelle Hunt-Grouchy Director of Communications Department of Advanced Education and Skills 709-729-0753, 725-1593 michellehuntgrouchy@gov.nl.ca	Alexandra Fortier Office of Minister Kenney 819-994-2482
Media Relations Office Employment and Social Development Canada 819-994-5559 media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca

2014 11 07                             1:20 p.m.