The federal government has allocated more than $28 million for the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency’s Apprenticeship START Plus Project.
The project will provide financial support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador to hire a minimum of 5,200 first-year apprentices in eligible Red Seal trades over the next two years, says a statement issued when Cara Qualtrough, minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, was in Truro, NS, in late August.
“This includes a minimum of 1,190 first-year apprentices from equity-deserving groups such as women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people and racialized people,” the statement says.
“Canada needs more skilled trades workers. We need more women, persons with disabilities, Indigenous people, racialized Canadians and other traditionally marginalized people to get into the skilled trades,” Qualtrough said. “That’s why the Apprenticeship Service program is so critical. It’s helping more and more Canadians seize these great job opportunities, and it’s making sure businesses have the skilled workers they need to thrive.”
