Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre announced a plan Friday to boost training and employment for workers in the skilled trades.
Speaking at a news conference in Ottawa Friday morning, Poilievre said his plan for "more boots, less suits" will expand training halls and provide direct grants and faster access to employment insurance for apprentices in licensed trades.
Poilievre said the goal is to deliver higher paycheques to workers and make Canada less reliant on the U.S. economy.
The plan would see the federal government offer apprenticeship grants of up to $4,000, fund training halls for skills development for up to 350,000 workers over five years, and work with provinces to harmonize health and safety regulations to allow tradespeople to work anywhere in Canada.
"The people who build the homes are not able to buy them," Poilievre said in front of an audience of local construction union members.
"The choice is the next election is very clear."
Prime Minister Mark Carney is widely expected to call an election on Sunday, sending Canadians to the polls as early as April 28.
Poilievre spent much of his news conference talking about how he is different from Carney and claiming the prime minister wouldn't be able to stand up to U.S. President Donald Trump as well as he could.
"That's why common sense Conservatives will always stand with our employers and our unions right across the country to unleash the great Canadian promise," he said.
"Canada first."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 21, 2025.
Comments
This is policy that Poilievre thinks will shore up his popularity with 20-34 year old males, up until recently some of his biggest supporters. Is it a good idea? Let's look at my own path through apprenticeship. I was able to get a rental & school subsidy through E.I., a program that I believe still exists. After 1st year my employer paid my tuition costs every year, which is still common. The supplemental training he refers to has been ongoing for years, the primary & best delivery agents of it are unions, though some larger employers in the non-union field do offer it. There still exists a tool grant from the federal government. Therefore, I would argue that this proposal adds up to nothing.