Union Training and Innovation Program
Eligibility & Details
What this program funds and who can apply
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 a Canadian labour union (certified union with a collective agreement)
- 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
Quick Assessment
Funding Details
- Amount
- Up to $2 million
- Type
- Grant
- Level
- Federal
- Co-Funding
- Up to 50% of eligible costs
- Deadline
- Ongoing
Program Scorecard
Competition, effort, and approval at a glance
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How to Win
Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like
Insider TipThis program is NOT for businesses — it's for unions and union training organizations. If you're a business owner looking at this record, skip it. The only indirect benefit to employers is if your industry's union training centre gets UTIP funding to buy better equipment or develop new training curricula — your apprentices may receive better training, but you won't see a dollar directly.
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Rejection Pitfalls 7
- Applicant is not a union and lacks a formal union partnership (letter of support alone is insufficient)
- Project does not target Red Seal trades exclusively
- Organization is located in Quebec (separate provincial agreement exists)
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Success Profile
Labour union representing workers in one or more Red Seal trades with established training infrastructure (training centre, curriculum, apprentice pipeline). Multi-union partnerships across sectors or regions are favoured for Innovation stream. Organizations targeting equity-deserving groups (women, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, persons with disabilities, racialized individuals) receive priority assessment.
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Evaluation Criteria
Applications assessed on: demonstration of how funding will improve access to training for apprentices in Red Seal trades, clarity of results measurement and reporting plan, justification that costs are reasonable and support project activities, strength of union partnership and engagement, targeting of equity-deserving groups (women, Indigenous peoples, newcomers, persons with disabilities, racialized individuals), and alignment with current apprenticeship priorities.
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Application Playbook
Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses
Application Steps
Required Documents 9
Eligible Expenses 10
- Capital assets — training equipment and materials meeting latest industry standards (CAS-ITE stream)
- Equipment lease, rental, or purchase costs
- Computer software for online or virtual training delivery
- Internet and information technology infrastructure for virtual training
- Staff wages including mandatory employment-related costs (CPP, EI, EHT) for project support and reporting
- Professional development and training for project delivery staff
- Travel costs directly related to project delivery
- Curriculum development and training materials creation (Innovation stream)
- Mentorship program costs targeting equity-deserving groups (Innovation stream)
- Green skills training development costs (Sustainable Jobs stream)
Ineligible Expenses 7
- General overhead and administrative costs not directly tied to the funded project
- Costs for routine organizational operations (rent, utilities, general salaries)
- Costs incurred before the contribution agreement is signed
- Training in non-Red Seal trades
- Lobbying or government relations expenses
- Capital costs for building construction or renovation (unless directly part of training facility upgrade in equipment stream)
- Entertainment and alcohol
Intake Periods
CAS-ITE (Investments in Training Equipment) accepts applications on a continuous, ongoing basis year-round. Innovation in Apprenticeship stream: periodic calls for proposals. Sustainable Jobs stream: open call with projects concluding by March 31, 2030. Check Canada.ca funding pages for current status of each stream.
Deadline Notes
All three streams are currently accepting applications. CAS-ITE funding decisions are made on a continuous basis and may take 4-6 months. The program has no fixed intake windows or closing dates for Streams 1 and 2. Sustainable Jobs Stream projects must conclude by March 31, 2030.
Open Application Portal →Ineligible Organizations
- For-profit businesses (unless demonstrating non-commercial, non-profit intent for the project)
- Organizations in Quebec (separate federal-provincial agreement exists; Quebec organizations should contact their provincial ministry)
- Organizations without a formal union partnership involving Red Seal trades workers
- Individual apprentices (program funds organizations, not individuals)
- Post-secondary institutions applying as lead (can participate as subcontractors)
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Funding Stack Strategy
Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential
Compatible Programs
Clawback Risk
Low RiskSee which programs combine with this one — and how much more you could get. Unlock with Premium →
How Union Training and Innovati... Compares
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