Apprentice Loans: Red Seal Trades Update

Summary#

These final regulations (SOR/2021-99) change the list of Red Seal trades in the Apprentice Loans Regulations so it matches the list maintained by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA). The rules were registered on May 10, 2021 and published in the Canada Gazette on May 26, 2021. Some trades are removed on specific future dates and several trade names are updated.

What it does#

• Removes two trades from Schedule 1 so they are no longer listed as eligible for the Canada Apprentice Loan:
  • Rig Technician — removed effective June 30, 2021.
  • Electric Motor System Technician (EMST) — removed effective July 31, 2022.
• Updates trade names and replaces some older names with current ones used by the CCDA. Examples include:
  • Old name Motor Vehicle Body Repairer (Metal and Paint) replaced by Auto Body and Collision Technician.
  • Old name Automotive Painter replaced by Automotive Refinishing Technician.
  • Old name Motorcycle Mechanic replaced by Motorcycle Technician.
  • Old name Partsperson replaced by Parts Technician.
• Makes other administrative updates so the list of eligible trades matches each province’s and territory’s current Red Seal designations.
• Most of the amendments come into force on the day the regulations were registered; the two removals above come into force on the specific dates listed.

Who's affected#

• Apprentices registered in Red Seal trade programs who use the Canada Apprentice Loan to help pay for technical training.
• Training institutions, apprenticeship offices, and employers who advise apprentices about loan eligibility and program names.
• The CCDA and provincial/territorial apprenticeship authorities, because the schedule now reflects changes they made.
• It is not clear from the text whether any other groups are affected beyond those above.

Why it matters#

• If a trade is removed from the Schedule, apprentices in that trade will no longer be listed as eligible for the Canada Apprentice Loan after the removal date (for example, Rig Technician after June 30, 2021, and EMST after July 31, 2022).
• Renamed trades mean apprentices and employers should check the updated list to make sure the trade appears under its current name when applying for loans or confirming eligibility.
• This is mainly an administrative update to keep the loan rules aligned with the official Red Seal list, not a change in how the loan program works or new costs to businesses.