‘We need a workforce that has the green construction skills needed to build more quickly and sustainably across the country’
The federal and Quebec governments are investing $24.7 million over five years to support skills training for apprentices in 18 Red Seal trades deemed essential to reducing Canada’s carbon emissions.
The funding is expected to benefit up to 3,750 apprentices and journeypersons in Quebec under a bilateral agreement linked to the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP), says the Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).
The announcement comes amid warnings of significant labour shortages in the trades. ESDC estimates that by 2033, in construction alone, there will be more than 410,000 vacant skilled trades positions across Canada, including about 189,000 due to retirements.
The money will be delivered through a bilateral contribution agreement as part of Quebec’s Workforce Skills Development and Recognition Fund. The fund is established under the direction of the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail and administered by the Ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale, in line with provincial priorities and the needs of Quebec workers and employers, according to ESDC.
Federal Secretary of State (Labour) John Zerucelli tied the investment to housing supply and productivity goals.
“To build Canada Strong, double the number of homes built each year and reach nearly 500,000 units, we need a workforce that has the green construction skills needed to build more quickly and sustainably across the country,” Zerucelli says. “Today’s announcement is part of our plan—which we have in common with Quebec—to help train tradespeople in collaboration with educational institutions. That is how we will drive innovation, boost productivity and support long-term growth in the construction sector, right here at home.”
HR is shaping up to be a key cog in pushing companies towards their sustainability goals and requirements, according to a previous report.
Focus on priority sectors and Quebec’s model
Quebec Minister of Employment Pascale Déry says the shift to a low‑carbon economy is fuelling demand for skilled workers in sectors such as housing and construction, energy and electricity, and automotive trades.
“In Quebec, our educational institutions closely monitor current labour needs, providing students and workers with the high-quality training they need to succeed in a changing labour market,” Déry says. “By investing in skills development for trades in strategic areas, we are giving ourselves the means to have a more productive and resilient workforce.”
In Quebec, apprenticeship training is provided through the public school system without union involvement. In recognition of this distinct model, ESDC said UTIP is being implemented in the province through a separate bilateral contribution agreement, based on parameters used in the rest of Canada.
Sustainable jobs strategy
The new investment is delivered through the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Sustainable Jobs stream under UTIP. ESDC says this stream is part of Canada’s broader sustainable jobs approach outlined in the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act and the interim Sustainable Jobs Plan released in 2023, which guide the country’s transition to a net‑zero emissions economy.
The province’s Évolution‑Compétences programme – established by the ministère de l’Emploi et de la Solidarité sociale in collaboration with the Commission des partenaires du marché du travail – is funded by the Workforce Skills Development and Recognition Fund. The programme supports improving knowledge related to skills development and is intended for training project sponsors, offering HR teams a vehicle to co‑design targeted upskilling projects.
Since 2017, UTIP has supported more than 173,800 participants across Canada, including 28,500 in 2024–25, according to ESDC. The federal government also invests nearly $1 billion annually to make apprenticeship more accessible through loans, project funding, tax credits and deductions, Employment Insurance benefits and support for the Red Seal Program.
The Red Seal Program sets common interprovincial standards to assess the skills of tradespeople in Canada, through a partnership between the provinces and territories, which oversee apprenticeship training and certification, and the federal government.
In 2023, Ottawa introduced the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act and the Sustainable Jobs Action Plan, which will be published once every five years. Green jobs offer hope for workers at risk of automation, according to a previous report.
