Photo provided by NAP.
Gatineau, QC —The Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC) launched the National Apprenticeship Program (NAP), which creates opportunities for Indigenous women in the skilled trades.
Medium and small-sized businesses that take on apprentices from the program can receive $10,000 in funding for apprentices, for a maximum of $20,000 annually.
The NAP program was designed to connect Indigenous women, Two-Spirit, transgender, and gender-diverse people as new, first-year Red Seal apprentices.
The NAP provides access to a job board, where businesses can connect directly with potential apprentices.
Eligible businesses must have 499 or fewer employees, have adequate facilities and equipment to transfer skills to apprentices, and must meet any regulations and ratios applying to said trade, such as wage rates and ratios.
Recently the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating (CIPH) and the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC) met with the NWAC to discuss the apprenticeship program and offer its support for the program.