Federal government announces call for proposals aimed at increasing women in the skilled trades
by CM Staff
This call for proposals also seeks projects that will support the development of environmental skills for Canada's transition to a clean economy.
GATINEAU — On Oct. 12, the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced two calls for proposals aimed at helping equity-deserving groups, including women, get the apprenticeship training and support they need to enter the skilled trades workforce.
Under Stream 2 (Innovation in Apprenticeship) of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), the Government of Canada is investing up to $55 million over five years, beginning in 2023–2024. This will try and help fund projects that seek to improve the participation of apprentices in Red Seal trades who are women, newcomers, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, and racialized individuals, including through mentorship, career services and job matching. This call for proposals also seeks projects that will support the development of environmental skills for Canada’s transition to a clean economy.
Under the Women in Skilled Trades Initiative, the Government is investing up to $43.5 million over four years, beginning in 2023–2024, to support projects that aim to recruit and retain women apprentices in 39 eligible Red Seal trades found predominantly in the construction and manufacturing sectors. This new investment is a continuation of the Government’s support for women in the skilled trades. These projects will offer tailored supports to women as the temporary measures of the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women (ending in March 2023) and the Women in Construction Fund (ended in March 2022) come to their scheduled ends.
Both calls for proposals open on October 12, 2022, and close on December 1, 2022. Eligible organizations are unions representing workers in the Red Seal trades, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations, Indigenous organizations, municipal governments, and provincial and territorial governments, agencies, institutions and Crown Corporations.
“Canada needs more skilled trades workers. That’s why we’re focused on helping traditionally marginalized persons – women, persons with disabilities, LGBTQ2S+, Indigenous peoples, and racialized people – get the resources and training they need to start a career in the skilled trades. A diverse and inclusive workforce is a strong one, and that’s the one we’re creating for Canadians,” says Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough.
