Apprenticeship Completion Bonus in Non-Red Seal Trades



The apprenticeship completion bonus in non-Red Seal trades is a taxable cash grant of $2,000. The grant is available to registered apprentices after they successfully complete their apprenticeship training and obtain their Certificate of Apprenticeship and, where available, their Certificate of Qualification in any Ontario non-Red Seal trade, on or after April 1, 2009.

This completion bonus was a new apprenticeship budget initiative announced by the provincial government in the fall of 2009 as part of the government's plan to strengthen Ontario's apprenticeship and skilled trades system and ensure Ontario has the skilled workers it needs to succeed in tomorrow's economy.  This initiative is designed to:

  • Encourage apprentices to complete their training.
  • Encourage potential apprentices to enter into apprenticeship training
  • Reward and acknowledge apprentices who have completed their apprenticeship training
  • Demonstrate the government's commitment to training and the importance of skilled workers to Ontario's economy.

Who can participate?

To be eligible an individual must:

  • Be out of high school.
  • Have completed an apprenticeship program in Ontario in a trade that is designated as a non-Red Seal on or after April 1, 2009.
  • Have received an Ontario Certificate of Apprenticeship for a non-Red Seal trade that does not have an Ontario Certification of Qualification examination; or an Ontario Certification of Apprenticeship and an Ontario Certificate of Qualification for a trade that has an Ontario Certificate of Qualification examination on or after April 1, 2009.

An individual is not eligible:

  • If an Ontario Certificate of Apprenticeship or an Ontario Certification of Qualification is obtained in one of the designated non-Red Seal trades without having completed an apprenticeship program in Ontario for that trade. Trade qualifiers are not eligible for the bonus.

The federal government offers the Apprenticeship Completion Grant for apprentices who complete their training in Red Seal trades. Find out more on the Service Canada website here: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/workplaceskills/trades_apprenticeship/acg/index.shtml.

How can I receive the bonus?

MTCU will mail eligible apprentices a form to complete indicating their eligibility for the bonus. Apprentices who have completed their training from April 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 will have 180 days from the date on the application letter to return their application to MTCU. Apprentices who have completed their training after December 31, 2009 will have a 180 day time limit from the date of issuance on an apprentice's Certificate of Apprenticeship or Certificate of Qualification to return their application to MTCU. Any application received following the 180 day time limit will not be eligible for the Bonus.

For more information

Contact the Coordinator, Bonus to Apprentices Program 1-800-448-9656 or the toll-free Employment Ontario Hotline at 1-800-387-5656, TTY (telephone service for the deaf) 1-866-533-6339 for the phone number and location of the apprenticeship office in your area. Newcomers to Ontario can ask for this information in the language of their choice.