Background on the Promise

During the 2025 federal election campaign, Liberal Leader Mark Carney announced a plan to introduce a new Apprenticeship Grant of up to $8,000 for registered apprentices. This initiative was positioned as a response to economic challenges, including U.S. tariffs under President Trump, and aimed to support skilled trades workers by covering costs associated with apprenticeship training. The grant was intended to address skills shortages, boost the workforce, and make training more affordable, with the condition that it would convert to an interest-free loan if the apprentice did not complete their program within established timelines. It was meant to complement existing supports like the Canada Apprentice Loan.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Following the Liberal Party's victory in the April 2025 federal election and Mark Carney's ascension to prime minister, the government has emphasized economic strengthening and skilled trades development. In announcements and meetings with premiers, Carney has reiterated commitments to building a unified Canadian economy, including investments in training infrastructure and labor mobility. However, as of late August 2025, there is no evidence of specific legislation being proposed or passed to implement the $8,000 grant. The previous Apprenticeship Incentive Grant and Apprenticeship Completion Grant programs ended on March 31, 2025, creating a gap that this new promise was intended to fill, but no replacement has been officially launched.

Progress on Key Elements of the Promise

The promise specifically targeted registered apprentices with a grant of up to $8,000 to remove financial barriers to entering and completing skilled trades programs. While the government has invested in related areas, such as a $20 million pledge for colleges to expand training spaces and efforts to improve interprovincial labor mobility, the core grant component remains unfulfilled. Discussions in July 2025 around high youth unemployment and economic downturns have highlighted the urgency for such supports, but no concrete rollout of the grant has occurred. If legislation is introduced in the upcoming fall parliamentary session, this could advance the promise; conversely, failure to allocate budget or pass enabling laws by the end of 2025 could put it at risk of being broken.

Challenges and Potential Outcomes

The minority government status of the Liberals may complicate swift implementation, requiring cooperation from other parties. Economic pressures, including job losses reported in July 2025, underscore the need for this grant, but without dedicated funding or program details released, progress is limited. To be considered kept, the government must enact legislation, secure funding, and begin disbursing grants to eligible apprentices. If no action is taken by mid-2026, it could be deemed broken, especially given the sunsetting of prior grants.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.