Tuesday, July 8, 2025

CLAC Receives Union Training and Innovation Grant From Federal Government

CAMBRIDGE, ON—CLAC has been awarded $4.91 million in federal funding from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) to help address apprenticeship challenges nationally through the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP).

As of March 2025, CLAC has started project activities for its Forge your Future, a CLAC Apprentice Progression Program, in partnership with the Construction Foundation (CF).

CLAC will deliver this program aimed at supporting unemployed or underemployed skilled tradespeople, including equity-deserving groups, across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Ontario. The goal is to increase the progression and completion of apprentices in Red Seal trades.

This program will run over four years, ending on March 31, 2029, and will help apprentices to

overcome personal and systemic barriers affecting learning, performance, certification, and employment in skilled trades by delivering training and individualized support; and
identify skill sets and place participants into skilled trades job-applicant pools.

CLAC has partnered with the Construction Foundation in each of the five provinces to help apprentices navigate barriers and successfully achieve their Red Seal endorsement. This program offers a suite of tools and one-on-one support to ensure they continue to progress and reach their goals.

In BuildForce Canada’s most recent study, it is projected that Canada will have a shortfall of 108,300 skilled workers by 2034. With the apprentice completion rate remaining around 50 percent, it is imperative that we focus on training, upskilling, and recruiting apprentices to ensure we meet this rising demand.

This program highlights CLAC’s ongoing commitment to supporting apprentices as they progress through their apprenticeship pathway.

“When we invest in apprentices, we’re not just training workers, we are shaping the future leaders of our trades,” says Brad Bent, CLAC Training, Apprenticeship, Jobs – West director. “Every tool and support we offer builds a stronger, more skilled workforce that we will all benefit from.”

“To build Canada strong, we need a strong workforce to back it. That’s why the Government of Canada is investing in workers and unions through the Union Training and Innovation Program. Together we are making sure workers have the skills, experience, and support they need in an evolving labour market.”—Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families

CLAC Receives Union Training and Innovation Grant From Federal Government

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