Frequently Asked Questions

The Rupertsland Institute Apprenticeship Service Program is a federal program designed to increase participation in the trades by providing financial incentives to employers willing to sponsor a new, first-year apprentice in one of 32 trades. Eligible employers will be able to receive $10,000.00 CAD for each first-year apprentice they sponsor, to a maximum of 2 apprentices per fiscal year.

This program is targeting all apprentices, with a special emphasis on identified diverse equity groups. Rupertsland Institute has been granted approval to administer this program on behalf of self-identifying Indigenous (Métis, First Nations, Inuit) and women from all over Alberta.

You must also meet the education/entrance requirements for the desired trade, be legally able to work in Canada, and be ready, willing, and able to enter an apprenticeship agreement.

You will not be asked to show proof of being Indigenous (Métis, First Nations, Inuit) or a woman. This program only requires that clients self-identify as one of these groups.

• Boilermaker
• Bricklayer
• Cabinetmaker
• Carpenter
• Concrete Finisher
• Construction Craft Worker
• Electrician
• Floorcovering Installer
• Gasfitter Class A
• Gasfitter Class B
• Glazier
• Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
• Instrumentation and Control Technician
• Insulator (Heat & Frost)
• Ironworker (Generalist)
• Ironworker (Reinforcing)
• Ironworker (Structure/Ornamental)
• Landscape Horticulturalist
• Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)
• Machinist
• Metal Fabricator (Fitter)
• Mobile Crane Operator
• Painter and Decorator
• Plumber
• Powerline Technician
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
• Roofer
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Sprinkler Fitter
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter
• Tower Crane Operator
• Welder

This program is specifically targeting trades in the manufacturing and construction sectors. Therefore, trades that are not directly related to those sectors are not eligible for the program. These trades include, but are not limited to, automotive technician, parts person, agricultural machine technician, and heavy-duty technician.

This is possible if you and your company did not sign the sponsorship document before the Contribution Agreement between the company and Rupertsland has been approved.

No, in order to be eligible for this program you must not already been sponsored in the trade you are looking to pursue.

Current journeypersons who would like to transition to a new trade are able to do so under the Apprenticeship Service Program, provided the contribution agreement with the employer is approved before the sponsorship takes place.

While it is helpful to come to us with an employer in mind, our staff can assist with locating employers willing to sponsor a first-year apprentice.

Another aspect of this program is to assist small and medium sized businesses offset the costs of bringing on new apprentices. Therefore, only companies with 499 employees or less will be eligible for the program incentives.

If the union are is paying your wage, and they meet the 499 or lower employee mark, they can receive the incentive. However, if you’re sponsored by the union, but your wages are paid by a business, the business will be entitled to the incentive.

Each sponsoring employer will have up to 90 days to follow through with sponsoring the client before the agreement is terminated. If this is the case, the client will have the option to work with RLI to find a more suitable employer.

Anyone interested in participating in this program, and meets the eligibility criteria, can access the program by contacting us or by calling their local METI-Service Centre (1-888-486-3847)

If you meet the RLI criteria, then RLI will be able to assist with the technical training costs. However, if you are First Nations or non-Indigenous, our Industry Relations Liaisons will assist you in finding the appropriate supports for your technical training.

The Apprenticeship Service Program is an agreement between Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Rupertsland Institute to administer small-medium enterprises financial incentives to register/sponsor new first-year Red Sea apprentices in the construction and manufacturing industry who self-identify within the targeted equity groups of Indigenous (Métis, First Nations, Inuit) and/or Women (gender).

SME stands for “small-medium enterprise”. SMEs are businesses that have less than 500 employees (499 or less).

• Classifications of SMEs
  • Micro – 1 to 4 employees
  • Small – 5 to 99 employees
  • Medium – 100 to 499 employees

The Apprenticeship Service Program provides financial incentives to small-medium enterprises who register/sponsor new first year apprentices in one of the 39 Construction & Manufacturing recognized trade streams who identify with one of the equity-deserving groups (Indigenous (Métis, First Nations, Inuit) and/or Women (gender)).

In addition to the financial incentives, the Apprenticeship Service Team will connect employers with potential new apprentices. Industry Relations Liaisons will be able to support you throughout the employment journey and refer you to other programs and supports relevant to your business.

Eligibility Criteria

1. Client – Self-identifies as a woman and/or Indigenous (Métis, First Nations and/or Inuit), legally able to work in Canada, able to be registered/sponsored as an apprentice, possess pre-requisite according to selected trade stream, and are ready, willing, and able to enter ASP.
2. Employer – Employs fewer than five hundred (500) employees, has not employed two (2) employees through ASP per current fiscal year, is committed to providing a safe, inclusive and harassment free environment, and agrees to register and sponsor client within ninety (90) days of hiring.

If the individual works as a labourer and an apprenticeship contract has not yet been established, the individual is eligible to be put into a NEW position as an apprentice. The purpose of the program is to support the SME in the creation of NEW apprenticeship positions that they would have otherwise been unable to make.

Yes, if they have not become a new first-year before the Contribution Agreement with Rupertsland Institute has been signed and approved.

No, only eligible apprentices are new 1st year apprentices who are not currently sponsored in the trade of interest.

Yes, as in this case the union would be considered the employer (if the union is paying the client’s wages and meets the SME definition) and would receive the incentive. If the employer is paying the client’s wages, regardless of whether or not the client is registered as an apprentice with the union, then the employer would receive the incentive.

Yes, if each separate division has a separate business registration number with the Canada Revenue Agency, has less than 500 employees and is an approved sponsor by the Government of Alberta.

SMEs are eligible for a financial incentive of up to $10,000.00 CAD per first-year apprentice hired/registered in a new trade who self-identifies within one of the eligible equity-deserving groups (Indigenous (Métis, First Nations, Inuit) and/or Women (Gender)).

Funding is received once you have completed the actions laid out in your signed Contribution Agreement:

1. You have hired and registered a new first year apprentice
2. You have provided your Industry Relations Liaison with a copy of the individual’s apprenticeship agreement with the provincial apprenticeship authority
3. You have completed & submitted the ASP-005 Payment Request Form to your Industry Relations Liaison

Payments from the Apprenticeship Service Program will be sent via cheque in registered mail to the business address listed on the Employer Application Form.

No, regardless of what happens with the position, the funds do not need to be returned – the funds are meant to be an incentive, used to help alleviate the cost to the SME for registering apprentices, but the money doesn’t have to be spent on salary.

The financial incentive would count as part of the employer’s revenue stream. To determine how you are taxed you may need to consult someone experienced in tax implications as this falls under a combination of local/federal tax authorities. Therefore, while the ASP funds are there to help offset costs, etc., if you (the recipients) would like to explore tax implications further, you should do so within the local (PT) or federal (CRA) contacts.

Up to two (2) first-year apprentices per fiscal year (April – March)

• Two first year apprentices can be hired between April 1st, 2022 – March 31st, 2023
• Two first year apprentices can be hired between April 1st 2023 – March 31st, 2023

Your application form will be kept on file; however, you are not obligated to complete any activities.

There are no restrictions or guidelines for how the company uses the incentive received through the Apprenticeship Service Program.

Individuals may only voluntarily self-identify as one or more of the equity deserving groups (Indigenous (Métis, First Nations, Inuit) and/or Women). The decision to self-identify is up to the individual apprentice, you may not force an individual to self-identify nor should you assume the individual is part of one of these groups.

If a company acknowledges a potential hire may match the eligibility requirements of the Apprenticeship Service Program, they should refer the potential hire to the Industry Relations Liaison they have been in contact with. The Industry Relations Liaison will work with the potential employee to complete and submit an application for the Apprenticeship Service Program.

IMPORTANT: For the new employee to remain eligible for the Apprenticeship Service Program, and agreement of employment between yourself (the business) and the employee can not be signed until after the Contribution Agreement is signed with Rupertsland Institute Apprenticeship Service Program.

• Boilermaker
• Bricklayer
• Cabinetmaker
• Carpenter
• Concrete Finisher
• Construction Craft Worker
• Electrician
• Floorcovering Installer
• Gasfitter Class A
• Gasfitter Class B
• Glazier
• Industrial Mechanic (Millwright)
• Instrumentation and Control Technician
• Insulator (Heat & Frost)
• Ironworker (Generalist)
• Ironworker (Reinforcing)
• Ironworker (Structure/Ornamental)
• Landscape Horticulturalist
• Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)
• Machinist
• Metal Fabricator (Fitter)
• Mobile Crane Operator
• Painter and Decorator
• Plumber
• Powerline Technician
• Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic
• Roofer
• Sheet Metal Worker
• Sprinkler Fitter
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter
• Tower Crane Operator
• Welder

Please contact us.