Minister MacKinnon Announces Support for Skilled Trade Apprentices in the Atlantic Region
St John’s, NL – February 12, 2025 – The Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Minister of Labour, today announced $20 million in funding to support skilled trade apprentices in the Atlantic region. The funding will be used to create new apprenticeship programs, expand existing programs, and provide financial assistance to apprentices.
“Skilled trades are essential to our economy and our way of life,” said Minister O’Regan. “This investment will help to ensure that we have the skilled workforce we need to build and maintain our infrastructure, grow our economy, and create good jobs for Canadians.”
The funding will be provided through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). ACOA will work with industry partners and educational institutions to develop and deliver apprenticeship programs that meet the needs of the region.
“This investment is a significant step forward in our efforts to address the skilled trades shortage in the Atlantic region,” said ACOA Minister René Arseneault. “It will help to attract and retain apprentices, and ensure that we have the skilled workforce we need to compete in the global economy.”
The funding will be used to:
- Create new apprenticeship programs in high-demand trades, such as construction, electrical, and plumbing.
- Expand existing apprenticeship programs to increase the number of apprentices in the region.
- Provide financial assistance to apprentices to help cover the costs of tuition, tools, and other expenses.
The investment is part of the Government of Canada’s $1.4 billion Skilled Trades Strategy, which was announced in Budget 2023. The Strategy is designed to address the skilled trades shortage in Canada and help to ensure that we have the skilled workforce we need to compete in the global economy.
“This investment is a welcome addition to the Skilled Trades Strategy,” said Suzanne Squires, President of the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum. “It will help to make apprenticeship more accessible and affordable for Canadians, and ensure that we have the skilled workforce we need to build our future.”
The Atlantic region is facing a significant skilled trades shortage. According to the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum, there are currently over 4,000 unfilled skilled trades jobs in the region. The shortage is expected to grow in the coming years, as many skilled trades workers are retiring.
The investment announced today will help to address the skilled trades shortage in the Atlantic region and ensure that we have the skilled workforce we need to build and maintain our infrastructure, grow our economy, and create good jobs for Canadians.
Minister MacKinnon to announce support for skilled trade apprentices in the Atlantic region
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