Monday, February 9, 2026
    ADVT 
    National

    Poilievre outlines plan to boost apprenticeships, training for trades workers

    Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 21 Mar, 2025 02:14 PM
    • Poilievre outlines plan to boost apprenticeships, training for trades workers

    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."

    Prev Next

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Younger Canadians drive trust in AI-generated information, poll indicates

    Younger Canadians drive trust in AI-generated information, poll indicates
    Among generation Z Canadians — those born between 1997 and 2012 — 41 per cent say they see AI systems as reliable information sources. That’s not far off from the 49 per cent of gen Z respondents who said they trust stories on news media websites, according to the annual CanTrust Index published by Proof Strategies.

    Younger Canadians drive trust in AI-generated information, poll indicates

    Liberal leadership debate kicks off with questions about threat posed by Trump

    Liberal leadership debate kicks off with questions about threat posed by Trump
    He wasn't on the stage but U.S. President Donald Trump's shadow towered over the Liberal leadership race during Monday night's French-language debate. The candidates — former central banker Mark Carney, former finance minister Chrystia Freeland, former government House leader Karina Gould and former MP Frank Baylis — spent much of the debate talking about the threat Trump poses to Canada's economy and sovereignty.

    Liberal leadership debate kicks off with questions about threat posed by Trump

    Liberal leadership candidates to face off in final debate in Montreal

    Liberal leadership candidates to face off in final debate in Montreal
    Liberal leadership contenders will take the stage again Tuesday night for the English-language debate in Montreal — their last shot to confront each other in person and shake up the race. The four candidates left in the race played it safe in Monday night’s French-language debate.

    Liberal leadership candidates to face off in final debate in Montreal

    Provinces have roughly $100B at hand for tariff relief, Desjardins estimates

    Provinces have roughly $100B at hand for tariff relief, Desjardins estimates
    Canada's provincial governments have enough fiscal firepower to respond to looming U.S. tariffs without supersizing their debt burdens, a new report says.  The analysis released Tuesday from Desjardins Economics predicted upcoming provincial budgets will be dominated by plans to prepare for an unknown 2025 as promised tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump put a cloud over fiscal forecasts.

    Provinces have roughly $100B at hand for tariff relief, Desjardins estimates

    Ailing Pope Frances appoints new Archbishop of Vancouver

    Ailing Pope Frances appoints new Archbishop of Vancouver
    Pope Francis, who is hospitalized in critical condition with double pneumonia, has named a new archbishop for Vancouver. The Vancouver archdiocese says the Pope appointed Archbishop Richard Smith and accepted the resignation of J. Michael Miller. 

    Ailing Pope Frances appoints new Archbishop of Vancouver

    Another earthquake for B.C., less than four days after cities rattled

    Another earthquake for B.C., less than four days after cities rattled
    An earthquake has struck off the British Columbia coast, less than four days after major population centres were shaken by a similar-sized tremor. But Earthquakes Canada says the latest quake wasn't felt by anyone and it occurred in the Pacific, 182 kilometres west of Port Alice in northwest Vancouver Island.

    Another earthquake for B.C., less than four days after cities rattled

    PrevNext