Canadian Apprenticeship Service

The following 39 construction and manufacturing Red Seal trades are eligible for the funding incentive under Canadian Apprenticeship Service:

A financial incentive in the amount of $5,000 will be provided to eligible employers when they hire new first-year apprentices in one or more of the 39 construction and/or manufacturing Red Seal trades. The incentive is a one-time payment per new first-year apprentice. Employers do not need to apply for funding; eligibility will be assessed upon completion of an approved apprenticeship agreement.

An additional $5,000 will be issued if the apprentice voluntarily attests to being from at least one of the following equity-deserving groups. The apprentice is encouraged to identify all that are applicable on their apprenticeship agreement:

• Women
• Indigenous peoples
• Newcomers
• Persons with disabilities
• Visible minorities
• 2SLGBTQ+

The employer may be eligible to receive financial incentives for hiring a maximum of two new first-year apprentices per fiscal year, to a maximum financial incentive of $20,000.

Employers of SMEs in Nova Scotia with less than 500 employees may be eligible to receive funding for hiring new, first-year apprentices in Red Seal trades in the construction and manufacturing sectors.

To be eligible for Canadian Apprenticeship Service, the employer must agree to the following terms and conditions:

• The employer must have less than 500 employees.
• The apprentice must be a new first-year apprentice in at least one of the 39 Red Seal construction and/or manufacturing trades.
• A financial incentive of $5,000 may be provided for a new first-year apprentice, or $10,000 if the apprentice is from an equity-deserving group.
• The employer may be eligible to receive funding for a maximum of two (2) new first-year apprentices per Fiscal Year to a maximum of $20,000.
• The employer shall not enter into another agreement with any other organization receiving funding under the Canada Apprenticeship Service within the same Fiscal Year for the purpose of receiving a financial incentive.
• The employer must allow a financial audit by the Nova Scotia Apprentice Agency upon request and to provide access to the business premises and business site.
• The employer must repay the financial incentive where a payment was made in error or company was not eligible to receive the financial incentive.

Employers do not need to apply for funding. Once an apprenticeship agreement is signed between the employer and the apprentice, the apprenticeship agreement will be assessed and if eligible, funding will be dispersed to the employer.

Canadian Apprenticeship Service is funded by Employment and Social Development Canada.

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) often have limited access to human resources, financial supports, and administrative staff to help manage an apprenticeship program. In addition, employers who hire and train apprentices must provide a supervising journeyperson and incur a short-term productivity loss, which can be challenging.

The objective of Canadian Apprenticeship Service is to help first-year apprentices connect with employment opportunities at SMEs, giving them the hands-on experience and supports that are required to succeed in the skilled trades.

Canadian Apprenticeship Service also aims to improve the participation and success of equity-deserving groups in skilled trades training and careers. SMEs that create apprenticeship positions for first-year apprentices in construction and manufacturing Red Seal trades will receive financial incentives through intermediaries to offset part of the upfront costs of engaging a first-year apprentice.

Here are the contacts for questions about the Canadian Apprenticeship Service (CAS):

• Nova Scotia: Email ApprenticeshipStart@novascotia.ca
• New Brunswick: New Brunswick CAS
• Newfoundland and Labrador: Newfoundland and Labrador CAS
• Prince Edward Island: Prince Edward Island CAS

Through the Canadian Apprenticeship Service program, the Atlantic Apprenticeship Authorities are working with community-led organizations to provide a number of FREE training opportunities for trades employers to support the creation of inclusive, psychologically and culturally safe environments for apprentices. All current available training opportunities are available here.

Canadian Apprenticeship Service complements Nova Scotia’s Apprenticeship START program, which also provides employer incentives for hiring new, first year apprentices, including added incentives for hiring individuals from under-represented groups. Employers in Nova Scotia are eligible for blended funding through both programs.

The Nova Scotia START Program has slightly different eligibility than Canadian Apprenticeship Service, therefore this can result in eligibility for some employers in one program and not the other. Employers will be assessed for eligibility for both programs once an apprenticeship agreement is signed.