Apprenticeship

Polytechnics Canada members play a major role in addressing the looming critical shortage of key tradespeople vital to maintaining a prosperous economy.  There are 33,570 apprentice students at our member institutions in programs ranging from Agricultural Equipment Technician to Welder.

While significantly more people are enrolling in apprenticeship programs in recent years, the number of graduates has not grown.  Nationally, there are insufficient numbers of certified trades people to meet future demands. In other words, too many people are dropping out of their programs. Lack of financial resources is overwhelmingly cited as the Number One problem among those who leave trades training before completing their education.

Under current federal financial assistance plans, qualifying apprentice students can receive incentive and completion grants. However, these grants are treated unfavourably, when compared to scholarships for university students. While university students can receive up to $3,000 annually tax-free, apprenticeship students must declare all their grant money as taxable income.

Such a discriminatory situation is particularly difficult for mature apprentices who typically have family and other obligations that continue while they are in school. At the same time, these apprentices often are unable to qualify for student loans open to university undergraduates as well as graduate students.

Furthermore, mature apprentices whose employers encourage them to take such training must deal with an Employment Insurance system that is not designed to meet their needs. The apprenticeship students face long waiting periods for the first cheque and insufficient amounts once the money is received. As a result, they are discouraged from improving their skills and making a larger contribution to the Canadian economy. (In this regard, it should be noted that skilled labourers earn significantly more than unskilled workers and, therefore, people who complete apprentice training will pay greater amounts in taxes.)

Polytechnics Canada is working to garner more support for mature apprenticeship students throughout the duration of their work placements and studies.  Apprentices are working toward a career in a skilled trade, not just a job. By supporting these students throughout their entire studies, Canada would be able to boast an excellent future generation of journeymen and journeywomen. If the opportunity costs for mature apprentices could be reduced, the overall completion rate for mature apprentices would increase.