The Apprenticeship Completion Grant

April 27, 2009

Ottawa Journal (April 27 – May 01, 2009)
David Tilson, M.P.

An important part of Canada's Economic Action Plan introduced in Budget 2009, the Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG), is an incentive to encourage Canadians undertaking apprenticeships in the skilled trades. The ACG, which was announced in Edmonton, on April 9th, is a $40 million per year investment that will benefit approximately 20,000 completing apprentices each year, once they become certified in a designated Red Seal trade.

The ACG expands on and complements the existing Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG), by offering an additional $2,000 to eligible apprentices when they successfully complete their apprenticeship program and become a certified journeyperson in a designated Red Seal trade.

Under the existing AIG, registered apprentices are already eligible for a $1,000 grant when they complete their first and/or second level of apprenticeship training and certification in a designated Red Seal trade, to a maximum of $2,000.

The combined result of the ACG and the existing AIG is that completing apprentices could be eligible to receive a total of $4,000, once they become certified journeypersons in a designated Red Seal trade. These two grants together can make a significant difference during a time of economic uncertainty for those young Canadians starting out in the skilled trades or those already in a trade and wanting to make a change or upgrade their skills. Since shortages are already apparent or looming in many skilled trades, these two grants just make good sense.

Apprentices will be able to apply for the ACG in July 2009 with eligibility made retroactive to January 1, 2009.

This $40 million per year investment by the Government of Canada will not only help Canadians become skilled tradespeople, but will also boost worker mobility as the Red Seal is recognized as a standard of excellence in training and certification and is highly valued by employers. This will help ensure that we have the highly skilled and mobile workforce our country needs to fill available jobs in the skilled labour market.

Apprentices will apply for the ACG in the same way that they currently apply for the AIG, through Service Canada. Information on the ACG and the AIG is available on the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada website at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca, or by calling 1-866-742-3644 or by contacting your local Service Canada Centre.