Apprenticeship in Canada and the Red Seal Program

Caroline Fradette Director, Trades and Apprenticeship

U.S. Department of Labor-OECD Workshop on Workforce Development and Local Job Creation

November 18, 2014

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Outline

1. Background on Canada’s apprenticeship systems

2. Red Seal Program

3. Strengthening Apprenticeship in Canada

4. Annexes

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Canada has 13 distinct apprenticeship systems

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The federal government provides funding to P/T’s through labour market agreements, which P/T’s use in part to fund their apprenticeship systems and other training programs.

• The Government of Canada provides supports to individuals, such as the Apprenticeship Grants and Employment Insurance during training; and supports for employers such as the Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit. These incentives complement supports provided by P/T’s.

The federal government works in partnership with the P/T’s, through the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) to manage the Red Seal Program.

Federal role in apprenticeship in Canada

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About 60 years ago, provincial / territorial and federal governments created the Red Seal Program to develop common standards for the scope and tasks of designated trades.

Through the Red Seal Program, common national standards, examinations and curriculum guides are developed in partnership with industry.

The Red Seal is an endorsement physically affixed upon provincial/territorial (P/T) trade certificates, upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal exam.

The Red Seal Program is managed and delivered by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA).

Overview of the Red Seal Program

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The Red Seal represents a standard of excellence for the skilled trades.

– Competitive advantage – tradespersons are qualified to a high interprovincial standard recognized and trusted by industry.

– Labour mobility – automatic recognition of trade certification across the country.

•Over 20,000 Red Seal endorsements are awarded every year.

•The Red Seal Program covers about 77% of all registered apprentices in Canada and includes 57 trades.

Overview of the Red Seal Program

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Challenges to Canada’s apprenticeship systems

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Strengthening Apprenticeship in Canada

Objectives

Increased apprenticeship registrations Higher completion rates Higher number of certified tradespeople More efficient use of resources Increased employer engagement Enhanced mobility of apprentices

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Key Messages

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AnnexesAnnexes

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Other Federal Supports to Apprenticeship

Beyond the Red Seal Program, the Government of Canada also provides a suite of supports to apprentices and the skilled trades.

Apprenticeship Grants continue to directly support apprentices by providing up to $4,000 to encourage Canadians to pursue and complete apprenticeship training and become certified journeypersons in the designated Red Seal trades.

• Since inception, over 379,500 Apprenticeship Incentive Grants, launched in 2007, and over 133,500 Apprenticeship Completion Grants, launched in 2009, have been issued, for an overall investment of almost $647 million (as of November 9, 2014).

The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit to employers for a maximum credit of $2,000 per year for each eligible Red Seal apprentice in the first two years of a program.

Apprentices are also supported by income benefits provided through the Employment Insurance (EI) Program during periods of unemployment while attending full-time in-class technical training.

The P/Ts offer a range of complementary tax incentives and grants.

Federal Supports to Apprentices and the Skilled Trades

Apprenticeship Grants Apprentice Procurement Initiative EI income support for technical training Canada Apprentice Loan Tools tax deductions (CRA) Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit

for employers (CRA) Tuition Tax Credit for trade certification

fees Red Seal Program Aboriginal apprentice training through

Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF) Flexibility and Innovation in

Apprenticeship Technical Training (FIATT)

Targeted supports through labour market development agreements and labour market agreements with P/Ts

Support to Skills /Compétences Canada for Skills competitions

Helmets to Hardhats for retiring military tradespeople

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Trades employment by sector

*‘Other services’ include automotive repair and maintenance; personal care services (hair care, barber shops, funeral services), and; religious, grant-making, civic, and professional and similar organizations.

Source: Labour Force Survey, PRAG custom table 47

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Top 10 Red Seal Trades (2013)*

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The 57 Red Seal Trades

Agricultural Equipment Technician Appliance Service Technician Automotive Painter Automotive Service Technician Baker Boilermaker Bricklayer Cabinetmaker Carpenter Concrete Finisher Construction Craft Worker Construction Electrician Cook Drywall Finisher and PlastererElectric Motor Systems Technician Floorcovering Installer Gasfitter - Class AGasfitter - Class BGlazier Hairstylist

Heavy Equipment Operator (Tractor-Loader-Backhoe

Heavy Equipment Operator (Dozer)Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator)Heavy Duty Equipment Technician Industrial Electrician Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)Instrumentation and Control Technician Insulator (Heat and Frost)Ironworker (Generalist)Ironworker (Reinforcing)Ironworker (Structural/Ornamental)Landscape Horticulturist Lather (Interior System Mechanic)Machinist Metal Fabricator Mobile Crane Operator (Hydraulic)Mobile Crane Operator Motor Vehicle Body Repairer (Metal and Paint)Motorcycle Mechanic

Oil Heat System Technician Painter and Decorator Partsperson Plumber Powerline Technician Recreation Vehicle Service Technician Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Rig Technician Roofer Sheet Metal Worker Sprinkler System Installer Steamfitter/Pipefitter Tilesetter Tool and Die Maker Tower Crane Operator Transport Trailer Technician Truck and Transport Mechanic Welder