CAMBRIDGE — July 13, 2022: The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) has launched a new national program that will provide Canadian employers up to $10,000 to hire a new first-year apprentice.
This program is made possible by nearly $15 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service.
“Canada is facing a severe shortage of skilled trades workers,” says Colin deRaaf, CLAC's training Ontario director. “Through this program, CLAC, with the support of the Government of Canada, is seeking to increase the number of individuals entering and completing the apprenticeship pathway to become journeypersons and gain rewarding careers in the skilled trades.”
The new CLAC Apprenticeship Support Program (CASP) will provide financial incentives to employers to hire first-year apprentices in 39 eligible construction and manufacturing Red Seal Trades.
Employers can receive $5,000 for hiring a new first-year apprentice. They can receive an additional $5,000 if the apprentice self-identifies as being a member of one of the following underrepresented groups: women, Indigenous people, newcomers to Canada, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, or LGBTQ2+ individuals. Each employer can access funding for two apprentices per fiscal year, for a total of four apprentices over the life of the program, which runs until March 2024.
The funding is specifically targeted to small and medium-sized employers — those having fewer than 500 employees. The employer must sign a CASP agreement prior to registering the apprentice to access the funding.
In addition to the new employer incentives, CLAC provides apprenticeship supports to individual CLAC members entering or progressing through an apprenticeship. These services include assistance navigating the apprenticeship pathway, tuition reimbursements, training, scholarships, awards, and employment services.
“CLAC’s aim is to promote the skilled trades as providing rewarding, well-paying careers,” says deRaaf. “According to the latest data, Canada needed over 375,000 apprenticeship registrations between 2021 and 2025 to sustain our skilled trades workforce. CLAC is continually improving our apprenticeship recruitment and support services to encourage individuals to start, progress, and complete an apprenticeship.”
To learn more about CASP and to start the registration process, visit apprenticesupport.ca.
Funded by the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service.
About CLAC: Formed in 1952, CLAC is a national union representing over 60,000 workers in almost every sector of the economy. Based on values of respect, dignity, and fairness, CLAC is committed to building better workplaces, better communities, and better lives. CLAC is an affiliated member of the World Organization of Workers.
