This is Part 2 of a resource roundup of retraining funding and supports across Canada. Check out Part 1 to learn about federally funded programs.
The onset of the pandemic triggered 2.7 million job losses across industries. While Canada’s labour market recently showed signs of growth, there is also a rise in job vacancies as some workers re-evaluate their career goals and work-life values. According to Randstad Canada, 43% of working Canadians say they are likely to look for a new job in 2022. In this fluid pandemic landscape, financial support from federal and provincial governments is available to help jobseekers pursuing a career shift, as well as employers who want to retrain staff. Here are funding and supports for individuals and organizations, organized by province and territory.
Alberta
Alberta Jobs Now program
This program will provide up to $370 million to help private and non-profit businesses with job supports. Employers can apply for funding to offset the cost of hiring and training Albertans in new or vacant positions.
Canada-Alberta Job Grant
The Canada-Alberta Job Grant is a training program where an employer applies on behalf of their present or future employees for eligible training costs. Employers decide who gets training and what type of training may be needed for their employees.
Employment and Training Programs and Services: Eligibility Criteria Full-Time Learner
Eligible full-time learners can receive funded training and income support while attending their training program. Participating individuals cannot receive income support from Community and Social Services and funding from Advanced Education to attend the same program.
Employment and Training Programs and Services: Part-Time Training
People who want to improve their occupational skills and educational level while continuing to work may find funding for part-time courses for academic training or specific occupational programs.
Employment and Training Services Directory
This directory provides jobseekers with local programs and services that help individuals get training, find and keep jobs, and adapt to a changing labour market.
Funding for apprentices
Apprentices can apply for grants and tax benefits from the provincial and federal governments. Eligibility includes registration with Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) and attendance at a designated technical training program in Alberta.
Learner Income Support and Skills Investment Bursary
Adult learners can apply for funding for approved programs such as academic upgrading to pursue post-secondary study, occupational training, transitional programs for jobseekers with a mild developmental disability. Application forms are available here.
British Columbia
Community Workforce Response Grant (CWRG)
Funded through the federal government’s WDA, this grant provides on average up to $10 million a year in funding to support in-demand skills training for communities and sectors.
Single Parent Employment Initiative
Single parents receiving income or disability assistance may be eligible for support including up to 12 months of funded training or paid work experience and coverage of childcare costs.
Services for apprentices and employers
Apprentices and employers may be eligible for financial supports such as grants and tax credits. For example, individuals could receive up to $46,000 in total funding, or $55,700 for an individual with three dependents.
Training tax credit
Employers and apprentices who participate in certain apprenticeship programs under the Industry Training Authority (ITA) may avail of the training tax credit. More information on types of tax credit:
WorkBC Skills Training Programs
Skills training programs assist employers in providing specific types of training to employees. These programs include:
- The B.C. Employer Training Grant
- The Labour Market Partnership Programs
- The Trades Training and Apprenticeships
Manitoba
Financial Supports For Apprentices and Employers
This page lists bursaries, awards and tax credits under Apprenticeship Manitoba, Manitoba Public Insurance, Service Canada, Province of Manitoba and Canada Revenue Agency.
Canada-Manitoba Job Grant
While applications are now closed, this grant provides funding to help employers cover training costs of new and existing employees. Employers can apply for up to $10,000 per new or existing employee.
Retrain Manitoba
This skills development program was launched to support Manitoba’s economic recovery from the pandemic. Employers can apply for a maximum reimbursement of up to $75,500.
Workforce Development Program
The program aims to assist companies in assessing human resource management needs and implement HR and workforce training. Private and for-profit companies with a Canadian Business Number and are licensed to do business in Manitoba may be eligible to receive funding.
New Brunswick
Career Development Opportunities (CDO) Program
Individuals who receive social assistance and need help transitioning to a job may be eligible for financial support that is part of other career development services.
Human Service Counsellor and Personal Support Worker Training
WorkingNB can cover the full tuition amount for individuals pursuing education as personal support workers and human services counsellors. Various training programs are available across the province. There are also flexible funding options for occupational training through the Labour Force Training Program.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Job Grant
This grant helps offset employee training costs for employers. A maximum of $10,000 per year can go towards an existing employee and a maximum of $15,000 is available for training an unemployed individual.
Northwest Territories
Agriculture Training Program
New and seasoned jobseekers, and businesses in agricultural food production may be eligible for funding. Up to $5,000 per year is available for participation in commercial agriculture-oriented courses, training or conferences.
Canada-Northwest Territories Job Grant
Employers who will train workers for new or better jobs in the Northwest Territories may be eligible for training funding. This includes private sector companies, not-for-profit organizations and designated crown corporations and local Governments.
Tourism Training Fund
Funded training is available for short-term training opportunities for tourism workers to gain or upgrade skills. Funding will cover up to 75% of eligible costs.
Nova Scotia
Self-Employment Program
Participants who are unemployed and meet requirements of the Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) may receive entrepreneurial and financial support to start their own business.
Skills Development Program
This program provides unemployed participants with training support to gain new or additional occupational skills. Participants must meet requirements under the LMDA.
START program: hiring incentive
The aim of this program is to connect employers with individuals. Employers can receive funding when they hire eligible unemployed Nova Scotians to fill job vacancies. Wage incentives can help offset some of the salary and benefit costs related to hiring a new person. Individuals who apply receive support to promote their skills to employers.
Nunavut
Adult Learning and Training Supports (ALTS)
Training programs that are a year or less, and will lead to employment, are eligible under funding guidance. Examples of these programs include apprentice technical training, workplace training, pre-trades training and Nunavut Arctic College Foundations program.
Inuktut Education in Nunavut
The federal government committed to invest $42 million over five years to support an agreement to strengthen the Inuktut Language and education across the province. The Government of Nunavut will expand Inuit educator training through Nunavut Arctic College’s Nunavut Teacher Education Program in communities across the territory beginning in 2021–22.
Ontario
Canada-Ontario Job Grant
Employers may receive direct financial support purchase training for employees, including up to $10,000 in government support per person for training costs. Funding is provided by the Government of Canada and delivered by the provincial government.
Ontario Jobs Training Tax Credit
The credit is a temporary, refundable personal income tax credit to aid workers for a career shift, re-training and sharpening their skills. It provides up to $2,000 per year in relief for 50% of an individual’s 2021-2022 eligible expenses.
Second Career
Ontarians pursuing a new career for in-demand jobs may qualify for up to $28,000 in financial support for tuition, books, transportation and basic living allowance. Program benefits were changed to better help people who lost work because of the pandemic.
Quebec
COUD (Programme de formations de courte durée)
This short-term training program aims to support sectors in need of labour and reorient 1,5000 people to industries like agriculture, aeronautics, the green economy and electric transportation.
Information and Communication Technology Requalification and Training Program (PRATIC)
This program aims to encourage jobseekers who are unemployed to pursue a career in Information and Communication Technology. Eligible participants may receive $650 a week. Those who complete training may also receive $1,950 to support professional integration.
Saskatchewan
Northern Career Quest Inc. programming
This one-year, $2-million program, funded through the Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Transfer Agreements (LMTA), will provide training to support 400 Indigenous jobseekers from the Prince Albert Grand Council and Meadow Lake Tribal Council regions.
Re-Skill Saskatchewan Training Subsidy
Business may receive financial support for short-term employee training programs that will help them recover from challenges brought on by the pandemic.
Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC)
This is another upcoming program that will receive funding through the Canada-Saskatchewan LMTA. Several training institutions and the SATCC will expand their programs in construction, welding, and health care sectors.
Skills Training Programs
The Government of Saskatchewan allocated $13 million in funding for Skills Training Programs to engage with under-represented groups, create jobs in long-term care and increase apprentices in the province. These initiatives include:
- The Workforce Development for People with Disabilities Program
- The Supportive Care Assistant Program
Training Voucher Program
Eligible participants may access funding for training to re-enter the labour market. This may include fee coverage for tuition, books, supplies and other administrative costs.
Yukon
Film Training Initiative Program
Yukon residents pursuing film production or post-production technical training at a recognized post-secondary institution can apply for up to $3,000 in matching funds per year.
Staffing UP Program
This program was expanded in response to COVID-19, to include a wage subsidy option to help employers hire new workers to address emerging government priorities.
Working UP program
Approval for funding is based on the needs of the applicant and the needs of communities and the province’s labour market. The program was designed to help participants achieving learning goals and improve workplace skills and experience.
Yukon Tourism Training Fund
Financial assistance is available for residents seeking a career in tourism. Eligible training courses include first aid, language, First Nation course and financial literacy.
Additional resources
- Canada Student Grant for Part-Time Students with Dependants
- Government of Canada Employment Insurance (EI) and courses or training programs
- New Brunswick Employment Insurance (NB-EI) Connect Program
- Northern Alberta Development Council Bursary
- Nova Scotia Employment Programs
- Nunavut Film Funding Programs
- Prince Edward Island Training Services
- WorkBC Skills Training for Employment (STE): Older Workers 55+
- Saskatchewan Job Training and Financial Support Programs
- Student Aid BC: Explore Funding options
