At a press conference at the Robitaille grain mill in Farnham on April 18, Minister of Canadian Heritage and MP for Brome-Missisquoi Pascale St-Onge announced a $90 million dollar investment in the Apprenticeship Service and a $10 million investment in the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program with the primary goal of attracting more skilled workers to the construction industry.
The federal government has announced new investments in the skilled trades as a part of Budget 2024: Fairness for Every Generation in order to meet the growing need for housing and infrastructures that contribute to Canada’s economic growth.
St-Onge told CIDI that in order to build housing, including rental units, rapidly and at a more affordable price, and for businesses to establish themselves in Canada, the government also needs to address the challenge where more skilled workers are leaving the construction industry than entering it.
