Province reveals new help for unemployed apprentices

The provincial government has announced help for unemployed apprentices as they continue their technical training through an Apprentice Training Award.

A total of $1.5 million is being made available to help assist as many as 1,500 eligible apprentices in the 2016-2017 academic year.

They’ll receive $1,000 to help them reduce financial barriers towards their journeyperson certification.

To qualify, eligible apprentices can’t be working in their trade and must have successfully completed their first period of technical training.

They also have to be registered for technical training at a post-secondary institution or other training partner.

Apprentices who meet the criteria will be identified and contacted by government, the award will be distributed in January 2017.

“We know there are a lot of apprentices who are out of work and they need some encouragement to continue with their apprenticeship and technical training and we know when apprentices are out of work, their finances are top of mind and we don’t want finances to be a barrier for anybody to continue with their apprenticeship,” said Advanced Education Minister Marlin Schmidt.

The money will be used to go against the technical fees required for apprenticeship.

Schmidt says the downturn won’t last for ever and he believes this is key in making sure Alberta has the right people in the right place when it recovers.

“We’ve structured the award so it does cover the period of technical training.”

They’re anticipating 1,500 people will take advantage of the offer.

“All of the other costs of living while you’re going to school, it won’t cover those things but the direct cost when you go to a school like NAIT, it’ll cover those fees.”

Schmidt says there will be more to say as they continue their work in other programs like Student Aid.

He adds they will continue to provide predictable, long term funding so students won’t be hit with the impact when the province’s tuition freeze comes to an end.