This is an area in which we're working with our provincial and territorial counterparts. The federal government has a set of rules, and each province has its own set of rules to come to harmonization. It's not something we impose.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Reynolds Conservative Elmwood—Transcona, MB

I'm definitely familiar with that.

4 p.m.

Deputy Minister of Labour and Associate Deputy Minister of Employment and Social Development, Department of Employment and Social Development

Sandra Hassan

Exactly. We don't impose the rules. We need to work with the other jurisdictions in order to come to a consensus view around each of those important rules, which are there to protect workers.

4 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Reynolds Conservative Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Thank you.

4 p.m.

Liberal

John Zerucelli Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

If I may, I'll add to that.

Your advocacy on this is helpful. We've been working with the building trades from all across Canada to push this agenda forward. Your advocacy is welcome on the matter.

4:05 p.m.

Conservative

Colin Reynolds Conservative Elmwood—Transcona, MB

Another major barrier is harmonized apprenticeship training.

For those who aren't familiar with it, the interprovincial exam for Red Seal trades is standardized across Canada. However, the apprenticeship training structure is not. Some provinces have four levels of training for a particular trade, and some can have up to eight levels for the same trade in order to get to their Red Seal.

Has this government done anything to harmonize apprenticeship training among the provinces?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Give a short answer, please.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

John Zerucelli Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Let me answer it first.

We need more apprentices in this country. That's why, in this budget, we made a $75-million contribution and investment in the union training and innovation program. If we want long-term stability, we need more apprentices moving into high-demand jobs. We will continue to make investments in apprenticeships. We already invest over $1 billion through loans, grants and EI contributions.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Mr. Reynolds.

Ms. Desrochers, you have the floor for five minutes.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.

Mr. Secretary of State, thank you for being with us this afternoon. I also want to thank you for all the work you do.

Thank you in particular for your efforts to ensure that budget 2025 contains real measures, concrete measures, to help Canada's labour force. I'm thinking in particular of the skilled trades that we'll really need in the coming months and years to successfully implement our plan.

Given my role as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure, I'm very well aware of the current needs in construction and the labour shortage needed to carry out government projects.

Could you explain how expanding internship and training programs will support our goal of doubling housing construction to build a strong Canada?

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

John Zerucelli Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Thank you very much for the question.

Apprenticeships are essential to Canada's growth, especially as we build housing and major projects, as you mentioned. The federal government plays a key role as a funder and supporter. Every year, we invest $1 billion through grants, loans, tax credits and supports like the labour mobility deduction. We are seeing strong growth, including of women, in the Red Seal trades, with 593,000 job openings expected in the next 10 years. We are working with provinces, employers and unions to strengthen our apprenticeship pathways and ensure apprentices can start, continue and complete their training.

I will call on Colette to speak about some of the supports that are available for apprenticeships.

I'll turn it over to you, Colette.

4:05 p.m.

Colette Kaminsky Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Thank you for the question.

There are a number of programs available to help the trade and apprenticeship system in Canada, including direct programming that works with unions, which was recently doubled in the latest budget. Previously, the union training and innovation program helped nearly 30,000 individuals receive training and upskilling in 2023-24. That funding has now been doubled. We will be working to quickly implement that new program.

There are other supports that we work on with the provinces. The labour market development agreements program, for example, will help hundreds of thousands of individuals move from displaced occupations into new occupations. The latest funding we implemented as part of the tariff response plan is $570 million over three years to help workers displaced and impacted by tariffs. A major priority through that funding will be to support the skilled trades.

Those are just a few examples of the programs that help in this space.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you.

Maybe this is more of a question for one of the deputy ministers or for you, Secretary. On that, can you share some examples of how these kinds of programs help smaller communities and projects in rural areas?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Zerucelli Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

Do you want to give the UTIP example?

4:10 p.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Colette Kaminsky

Sure.

To give a tangible example, one is a project we did with the operating engineers, Local 955. Over the course of three years we helped diversify heavy equipment operator and crane operator apprentices to ensure that we move from paper-based methods and physical attendance to allow for audiovisual upgrades, new computing and online learning. That allows us to reach rural and remote communities more easily than requiring people to have to move to the training.

This one example helped 1,800 individuals, including over 800 from equity-deserving groups, reach and have access to training and upskilling to enter and advance in the skilled trades.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

Where was that program?

4:10 p.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Colette Kaminsky

I don't have the exact location.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

That's okay. I was just curious.

4:10 p.m.

Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Skills and Employment Branch, Department of Employment and Social Development

Colette Kaminsky

It was in Local 955. I can get you the exact location.

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

Caroline Desrochers Liberal Trois-Rivières, QC

Thank you.

I have 20 seconds. Is there anything you'd like to add?

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

John Zerucelli Liberal Etobicoke North, ON

I'm sure there will be more opportunity to have a conversation, but I want to highlight the personal support worker tax credit and what the SEIU had said about the budget. It said this means “More money in the pockets of PSWs” and it “means more care workers at the bedside of Canada's seniors, and a stronger, more resilient public health care system.”

4:10 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Bobby Morrissey

Thank you, Mr. Secretary and Madame Desrochers.

Mrs. Gill, you have the floor for two and a half minutes.