OECD Workshop on Workforce Development and Local Job Creation

1. 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

2. 2
Outline
1.Background on Canada’s apprenticeship systems
2.Red Seal Program
3.Strengthening Apprenticeship in Canada
4.Annexes

3. 3
Canada has 13 distinct apprenticeship systems

4. 4
Federal role in apprenticeship in Canada
 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.

5. 5
Overview of the Red Seal Program
 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).

6. 6
Overview of the Red Seal Program
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.

7. 7
Challenges to Canada’s apprenticeship systems

8. 8
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

9. 9
Key Messages

10. 10
AAnnnneexxeess

11. 11
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

12. 12
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

13. 13
Top 10 Red Seal Trades (2013)*

14. 14
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 Plasterer
Electric Motor Systems Technician
Floorcovering Installer
Gasfitter - Class A
Gasfitter - Class B
Glazier
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