Backgrounder

As part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government is promoting skilled trades and apprenticeships by investing $40 million per year in a new Apprenticeship Completion Grant (ACG), which complements the existing Apprenticeship Incentive Grant.

It is estimated that approximately 20,000 apprentices who complete their apprenticeship program and become certified in a designated Red Seal trade will be eligible for the ACG each year.

About the Program

The Apprenticeship Completion Grant is a $2,000 taxable cash grant designed to encourage apprentices registered in a designated Red Seal trade to complete their apprenticeship program and receive journeyperson certification. Apprentices will be able to apply for the ACG in July 2009, with eligibility made retroactive to January 1, 2009.

How It Works

Upon successful completion of an apprenticeship program and receipt of their journeyperson certification in a designated Red Seal trade, apprentices can apply to receive the $2,000 ACG.

A Red Seal trade is one that is recognized under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program and designated as such within a province or territory. The Red Seal Program represents a national standard of training excellence in the trades and provides recognition of tradespersons’ qualifications.

Under the existing Apprenticeship Incentive Grant (AIG), apprentices are already eligible for a $1,000 taxable cash grant when they complete the first and/or second level of their apprenticeship program in a designated Red Seal trade, to a maximum of $2,000.

As a combined result of the new Apprenticeship Completion Grant and the existing Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, apprentices who complete their apprenticeship program and become certified in a designated Red Seal trade could be eligible to receive a total of $4,000.

Who Is Eligible

Apprentices registered in a Red Seal trade that is designated as such in the province or territory in which they receive journeyperson certification are eligible to apply. Apprentices must successfully complete their apprenticeship training in a Red Seal designated trade and become certified journeypersons on or after January 1, 2009, to be eligible for the grant.

How to Find Out More

Detailed information on the ACG, along with the application form, will be available on the Service Canada website at www.servicecanada.gc.ca by July 2009.