Government of Canada will be accepting applications for $5,000 Team Canada Strong Red Seal Completion Bonus as of November 16

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Employment and Social Development Canada

Oct 23, 2026, 12:52 ET

GATINEAU, QC, Oct. 23, 2026 /CNW/ -- Canada needs more skilled trades workers to build homes, strengthen critical infrastructure and support major economic and defence projects. To help meet this growing demand, the Government of Canada is making a generational investment in supports for the skilled trades.

The Red Seal Completion Bonus is part of the Government of Canada's $8 billion Team Canada Strong investment, which aims to recruit, train, and hire 80,000 to 100,000 new Red Seal trades workers in the next five years. The Team Canada Strong initiative will create new opportunities for the next generation while supporting a stronger, more resilient country for years to come.

As part of the Team Canada Strong initiative, journeypersons who completed an apprenticeship and obtained certification in a designated Red Seal trade on or after April 1, 2025, can apply for a $5,000 completion bonus as of November 16, 2026.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario is encouraging eligible applicants to prepare their applications ahead of the portal opening on November 16.

To be eligible, applicants must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or protected person and not currently attending high school.

Applicants are encouraged to begin gathering supporting documents now to ensure a smooth application process. Required documents will include:

  • Social Insurance Number (SIN) – note that permanent residents with a Social Insurance Number that begins with a 9 and protected persons will also be required to provide proof of status in Canada;
  • mailing address;
  • email address (optional and recommended); 
  • banking information to sign up for direct deposit; 
  • Red Seal trade name and certification date; 
  • province or territory of certification; and  
  • apprentice identification number.

In addition to Team Canada Strong funding, the Government of Canada provides nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through loans, project funding, tax credits and deductions, Employment Insurance benefits, and support for the Red Seal Program.

By investing in young people today, the Government of Canada is helping build the skilled workforce Canada needs for the future.

Quotes 

"There are good jobs waiting in the Red Seal trades, and not enough certified workers to fill them. Earning a Red Seal takes time and hard work, and we want more apprentices to see it through. That is why we are introducing a completion bonus, to recognize young people's efforts and help them get ahead as they start their careers."

– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario 

Quick facts 

  • Between 2024 and 2033, Canada will have more than 1.4 million job openings in the skilled trades, to build homes, expand transit and develop energy infrastructure across the country.
  • To check if a trade is a designated Red Seal trade in a province or territory, review the list of trades on the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program website.
  • All required supporting documents must be submitted within 28 calendar days of the beginning of an application, otherwise a new application will need to be submitted.
  • In addition to those listed above, additional supporting documents may be required based on province/territory of certification. 
  • If an applicant's certification date is between April 1, 2025, and November 15, 2026, they must apply by May 31, 2027.
  • For certifications obtained on or after November 16, 2026, applications must be received within 12 months of the certification date.
  • For more information on the Red Seal Completion Bonus, Team Canada Strong and careers in the skilled trades, visit Canada.ca/skilled-trades.  

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SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Contacts: For media enquiries, please contact: Jennifer Kozelj, Deputy Director of Communications and Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, [email protected]; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada,  819-994-5559, [email protected]

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Employment and Social Development Canada

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Government of Canada