Updated June 2026 · Verified against Employment and Social Development Canada guidelines
▲ Growing Reimbursement Est. 2017
Grant Federal Active

Union Training and Innovation Program

Employment and Social Development Canada
Maximum Funding
Up to $5,000,000
Ongoing
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Moderate
Payment
Reimbursement
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
50%
Union Training and Innovation Program provides Up to $5,000,000 per project over a maximum of 36 months (CAS-ITE stream). Supports union-based apprenticeship training and innovation in training approaches through project funding, to help more apprentices succeed and modernize training systems. The program covers up to 50% of eligible costs. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis. Approval odds: ~24% (GrantCompass analysis)
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Real recipient data

Who actually receives this funding

16 businesses received this funding in 2025 — 408 awards since 2018. Typical award: $160.6K. Half of all awards fall between $60K and $559K. The advertised maximum is $5M — most awards land closer to $160.6K. Top provinces: Ontario 44% · British Columbia 19% · Alberta 12%. Covers: ESDC Union Training and Innovation Program — grants and contributions to unions and union training funds. Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure data · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Data through Q3 2026.

The typical Union Training and Innovation Program award is $160.6K — the median of 408 awards since 2018, even though the program advertises up to $5M. In 2025, 16 organizations were funded.

16funded in 2025
$160.6Ktypical award
408awards since 2018

Most awards fall between $60K and $559K, with a typical (median) award of $160.6K. The program funds up to $5M for the largest projects — about 31 times the typical award.

Where awards land
typical $160.6K $60K $559K
up to $5M

Most awards land between $60K and $559K, with a typical award of $160.6K — and this program funds up to $5M for the largest projects.

Top provinces ON 44%BC 19%AB 12%

Named recipients

Recent recipients of the Union Training and Innovation Program include TREC Charitable Foundation (Toronto, ON, 2025), OMTC (Mississauga, ON, 2025) and BAC Local 1, NL (Conception Bay South, NL, 2025).

  1. 2025TREC Charitable FoundationToronto, ON
  2. 2025OMTCMississauga, ON
  3. 2025BAC Local 1, NLConception Bay South, NL
  4. 2025Western JETS, WJETSDelta, BC
  5. 2025Trucking HR CanadaOttawa, ON
  6. 2025SkillPlanBurnaby, BC
  7. 2025United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of AmericaConcord, ON
  8. 2025Carpenters' Regional CouncilConcord, ON
  9. 2025NETCOMississauga, ON
  10. 2025Canada's Building Trades UnionsOttawa, ON
Show 24 more recipients
  1. 2025Helmets to HardhatsOttawa, ON
  2. 2025CMAW Canada Training SocietyBurnaby, BC
  3. 2025Trade Winds to Success Training SocietyEdmonton, AB
  4. 2025UA Piping Industry College of BCDelta, BC
  5. 2024North Island CollegeCourtenay, BC
  6. 2024Iuoe Local 115 Training AssociationBurnaby, BC
  7. 2024Board of Governors Southern Alberta Institute of TechnologyCalgary, AB
  8. 2024Collège communautaire du Nouveau-BrunswickBathurst, NB
  9. 2024One Beauty Grande Prairie Inc.Grande Prairie, AB
  10. 2024New Brunswick Community CollegeFredericton, NB
  11. 2024Aurora CollegeYellowknife, NT
  12. 2024British Columbia Institute of TechnologyBurnaby, BC
  13. 2024Red River College PolytechnicWinnipeg, MB
  14. 2024Portage CollegeLac La Biche, AB
  15. 2024Nova Scotia Community CollegeHalifax, NS
  16. 2024Board of Governors of Lethbridge CollegeLethbridge, AB
  17. 2024College of the North AtlanticStephenville, NL
  18. 2024Local 116 International Association of Heat and Frost InsulatorsLakeside, NS
  19. 2024The Heat and Frost Insulators Training Centre Inc.Saint John, NB
  20. 2024Local Union 625 International Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersLakeside, NS
  21. 2024International Union of Bricklayers and IU of B & AC NFLD & LAB Local 01Conception Bay South, NL
  22. 2024International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental, & Reinforcing IronWorkers Local 752Lakeside, NS
  23. 2024Boilermakers Industrial Taining CenterHolyrood, NL
  24. 2024Iron Workers Local Union 842Moncton, NB
See how much each recipient received, and how each award compares to the typical one. Included in Premium ↓

Source: Government of Canada proactive disclosure

See all Union Training and Innovation Program winners →

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

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Program Description

Supports union-based apprenticeship training and innovation in training approaches through project funding, to help more apprentices succeed and modernize training systems.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must be an organization located and operating in Canada (except Quebec) that is one of: a union representing workers in the Red Seal trades; an organization managing a training trust fund for such a union; or a training provider delivering technical training to pre-apprentices and apprentices as part of a recognized apprenticeship program in a Red Seal trade
  • Project must be focused on apprenticeship training innovation or improving apprenticeship completion rates
  • Partner organizations (employers, training institutions) may participate in a consortium with the union
  • Projects must benefit apprentices in Red Seal or provincially designated trades
  • Must demonstrate a clear plan for improving training quality, diversity, or accessibility in the trades
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Construction Manufacturing Trades
Business Stage
Established

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Moderate
Competition
Low
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Up to $5,000,000 per project over a maximum of 36 months (CAS-ITE stream)
Type
Grant
Level
Federal
Co-Funding
Up to 50% of eligible costs
Deadline
Ongoing

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Competition
Low
Deadline
Ongoing
Approval
Moderate
Approval Rate
~24%
Accessibility
1/5

Very difficult — extensive requirements

Competition
2/5

Below average competition

Difficulty
3/5

Moderate — standard requirements

Processing Time
Budget Trend
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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

This program is NOT for businesses — it's for unions and union training organizations.

Premium See what trips up most applicants for this program — and how to avoid it.

Rejection Pitfalls 7

  • Applicant is not a union and lacks a formal union partnership (letter of support alone is insufficient)
+6 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

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Evaluation Criteria

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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win Union Training and Innovation Program

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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Confirm organizational eligibility Confirm your organization is a labour union or has a formal union partnership (letter of support alone is insufficient)

Required Documents 9

✓ Application form via GCOS (Grants and Contributions Online Services) or paper submission
✓ Detailed project proposal with objectives, activities, and timelines

Eligible Expenses 10

Ineligible Expenses 7

Intake Periods

Deadline Notes

Ineligible Organizations

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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit (AJCTC) Canada Apprentice Loan Provincial apprenticeship training funds
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

Low Risk
Premium See which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get.

How Union Training and Innovation Program Compares

Side-by-side with similar programs

Free
Program Amount Difficulty Payment Deadline
Union Training and Innovation Program Up to $5,000,000 Moderate Reimbursement Ongoing
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Strategic Response Fund - Steel Sector Varies (from $5B fund) Hard Reimbursement Ongoing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about Union Training and Innovation Program

Free
Can sole proprietors apply for UTIP?
No — only certified Canadian labour unions with a collective agreement can apply. Sole proprietors, businesses, or non-union training organizations are ineligible.
What's the typical project size?
Most projects range from $25,000 to $200,000. The maximum is $2M but is rare for most union-led initiatives.
How long does it take to get funds after approval?
Funds are disbursed via reimbursement after project completion. CAS-ITE decisions take 4-6 months, and reimbursement processing takes 30-60 days post-approval.
Why do most applications get rejected?
Common rejections: not a union, not targeting Red Seal trades, insufficient co-funding (below 50% for CAS-ITE), or Quebec-based applicants.
Can I stack this with provincial funds?
Yes — provincial apprenticeship training funds are compatible and can count toward the required co-funding (e.g., 50% for CAS-ITE).

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