Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA)—Activity Review—2021 and 2022

The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA)

The Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship (CCDA) is a voluntary intergovernmental partnership among the provinces and territories, which are responsible for apprenticeship training and trade certification, and the federal government.  The CCDA supports the development of skilled trades in Canada and manages the Red Seal Program.

The CCDA consists of 15 members including one official from each province and territory, and two federal government representatives from the department of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The Red Seal Program

The Red Seal Program sets common standards and examinations to assess the skills of trades professionals across Canada. Industry is integral in developing the national standard and examinations for each Red Seal trade. It is a partnership between the federal government and provinces and territories, which are responsible for apprenticeship training and trade certification in their jurisdictions.

Provinces and territories are also responsible for the administration of the Red Seal Program in their jurisdictions (for example, Red Seal examinations). Most provinces and territories use the Red Seal examination as the final certification exam in designated Red Seal trades. The CCDA is responsible for the Red Seal Program. All provinces and territories and the federal government participate as members of the CCDA.

The CCDA Secretariat

Sponsored by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), the CCDA Secretariat provides strategic and secretariat support to the CCDA and the Red Seal Program. The CCDA Secretariat serves as single point of contact to CCDA and its Committee members and facilitates connection with national stakeholders and partners. The CCDA Secretariat also engages in activities including coordination of CCDA meetings, dissemination of public communications, and promotion of the Red Seal Program at apprenticeship and skilled trades events and conferences.

Harmonization Initiative

Since 2015, the CCDA has overseen the development, implementation, and maintenance of the Harmonization Initiative ^{Footnote 1}. The Harmonization Initiative aligns apprenticeship systems across Canada by making training requirements more consistent in the Red Seal trades. As part of this work, the CCDA identified harmonization priorities in consultation with industry and training stakeholders. Recommendations regarding the Red Seal name, total training hours, levels of training and sequencing of training are developed by examining and comparing programming in each of the provinces and territories.

Originally, the selection of trades for harmonization in the early phases of the project was strongly influenced by the ambitious goal to harmonize trades that cover 80 per cent of apprentices by 2020, which was achieved. Next, trades were selected for the subsequent phases based on provincial/territorial feedback and the Pan-Canadian work plan.

As of the end of Phase 9 (2022-23), participating provinces and territories have now reached consensus for harmonization in more than 40 trades, compromised of over 97.6 per cent of apprentices in participating jurisdictions. Implementation is completed or underway for 32 of these trades.

Work will continue on the remaining Red Seal trades, as well as maintaining and improving harmonization in trades that have already gone through the process. The CCDA would like to thank all industry stakeholders and partners who have achieved significant progress on harmonizing Canada’s apprenticeship systems.

Red Seal Product Development

To ensure Red Seal products remain current and up to date, the CCDA continues to work closely with industry to monitor and improve the Red Seal standards and examinations. A variety of product development activities are held for many of the Red Seal trades every year in consultation with industry. In 2021 and 2022, these consultations took place via virtual workshops, in-person workshops and online surveys.

In 2021 and 2022, the CCDA continued its work developing quality Red Seal standards and examinations. In recent updates, content was added to standards to reflect trade activities that support reduced emissions and more environmentally conscious practices.

The CCDA has also created and published new web-based tools to assist exam candidates prepare themselves for writing the Red Seal examination. New self-assessment tools help candidates compare their experience and knowledge against the standard for their trade. The Red Seal exam preparation guide and the self-assessment guides for all 54 trades are now available on the Red Seal website.

The Red Seal Occupational Standards (RSOS) and Red Seal examinations developed and published during 2021 and 2022 are listed here.

Red Seal Occupational Standard (RSOS)

Thirteen (13) RSOS development workshops took place:

2021

Agricultural Equipment Technician

Painter and Decorator

Plumber

Recreation Vehicle Service Technician

Steamfitter/Pipefitter

Transport Trailer Technician

Truck and Transport Mechanic

2022

Automotive Service Technician

Baker

Floorcovering Installer

Heavy Duty Equipment Technician

Tilesetter

Welder

Fourteen (14) RSOS were completed:

2021

Bricklayer

Cabinetmaker

Carpenter

Construction Electrician

Industrial Electrician

Lather (Interior System Mechanic)

Mobile Crane Operator

2022

Agricultural Equipment Technician

Metal Fabricator (Fitter)

Painter and Decorator

Recreation Vehicle Service Technician

Steamfitter/Pipefitter

Transport Trailer Technician

Truck and Transport Mechanic

Examination Development

Seventeen (17) examination development workshops were held:

2021

Bricklayer

Cabinetmaker

Construction Electrician

Gasfitter – Class A and Class B

Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)

Mobile Crane Operator

Motorcycle Technician

Roofer

Welder

2022

Agricultural Equipment Technician

Appliance Service Technician

Carpenter

Industrial Electrician

Metal Fabricator (Fitter)

Painter and Decorator

Recreation Vehicle Service Technician

Transport Trailer Technician

Six(6) Red Seal trades had new examinations released:

2021

Cook

Hairstylist

Powerline Technician

2022

Lather (Interior Systems Mechanic)

Roofer

Truck and Transport Mechanic

Ellis Chart

The Ellis Chart website is an important reference tool to compare elements of apprenticeship programs for more than 300 trades across Canada. In 2021, the Ellis Chart was revised to simplify the presentation of these elements and usability of the site. Information about each province’s/territory’s apprenticeship program is continually being updated.

CCDA at the 2022 International Labour Conference

Chris Stubbs with Youna Zhang (ESDC) at the 2022 ILC

The CCDA nominated Chris Stubbs, Innovation and Inclusion Director at Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission and Harmonization Analyst of the Red Seal Program, to represent Canada at the 2022 International Labour Conference (ILC) in Geneva, Switzerland. The International Labour Organization (ILO) is a United Nations agency that brings together governments, employers and workers of its 187 member states to set labour standards, develop policies and devise programs promoting decent work for all persons. In 2022, the ILO undertook the first discussion on apprenticeships with a view to setting a new international labour standard.

National Stakeholders Meeting

CCDA hosted its National Stakeholders Meeting in Ottawa in November 2022, bringing 48 stakeholders and partners together to discuss on major jurisdictional program and legislative updates and how CCDA prioritizes its initiatives at the national level. CCDA also presented its new 2022-2027 Strategic Priorities to the national stakeholders and partners for discussion. The discussion centered on initiatives and work underway within participants’ organizations that are aligned with CCDA’s priorities. Participants highlighted areas requiring more resources include women in trades, newcomers, youth, and employers.

CCDA would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2022 National Stakeholder Meeting. We hope this meeting will encourage further communication and collaboration as we move forward together.

Awards

In 2021 and 2022, CCDA awarded four members of the apprenticeship community to recognize their contributions in the promotion, development or top-quality delivery of apprenticeship program in Canada.

The 2021 Red Seal Award for Excellence Winner – Darlene Clark

Darlene Clark, Manager of Program Standards for the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency (NSAA), was selected by the CCDA as the recipient of the 2021 Red Seal Award of Excellence. The award is given to an apprenticeship authority staff member who demonstrates inspiring leadership in the development of and promotion of apprenticeship and trade certification.

The 2021 CCDA Award for Excellence in Apprenticeship Education Winner – Patrick Jones

Patrick Jones, Program Lead in the Automotive Department at Camosun College, was selected by the CCDA as the recipient of the 2021 Award for Excellence in Apprenticeship Education. The award honours apprenticeship educators and training instructors who deliver innovative and top-quality instructional programming to apprentices in Red Seal Trades.

The 2022 Darryl Cruickshank Red Seal Industry Award Winner – Graham Prokopetz

The Darryl Cruickshank award recognizes an individual from industry who has made an outstanding contribution to the promotion or development of apprenticeship training in Canada. Graham Prokopetz, a Red Seal Plumber and Field Operations Supervisor with Botting and Associates in Calgary, was selected for the award based on his extensive work and volunteer history, and his inspirational leadership to the next generation of skilled tradespersons.

The 2022 Red Seal Award for Excellence Award Winner – Ihor Cap

Ihor Cap, Program Development Officer and Training Standards Coordinator at Apprenticeship Manitoba, was selected by the CCDA as the recipient of the 2022 Red Seal Award of Excellence. The award is given annually to one apprenticeship authority staff member who demonstrates inspiring leadership in the development of and promotion of apprenticeship and skilled trades certification.

Equity, Diversity and Inclusion

In 2021 and 2022, CCDA established two communities of practice (CoPs) to provide a forum for staff across jurisdictions to discuss engaging the under-represented groups in apprenticeship and the skilled trades. Members from these CoPs share information, best practices, and challenges for enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion within the apprenticeship community, and report back to CCDA on summaries of promising practices to engage and empower equity-deserving groups.

The Supporting Black Apprentices Community of Practice meets quarterly and has 15 members from across jurisdictions. Some of the topics discussed by the group include:

• History of black language from Ontario Public Service
• Overview of SkilledTradesBC Anti-Racism Programs and Initiatives
• ESDC Study on a labour market profile of Black Canadians working in skilled trades occupations
• Statistics Canada study of labour market outcomes of visible minority journeypersons
• Integration of Black-centric themes in the hairstylist and barber trades
• Overview of the Designation of Black Beauty Culture Hair Innovator as a trade (a provincial trade)

The Supporting Indigenous Apprentices Community of Practice meets quarterly and has 15 members from across jurisdictions. Some of the topics discussed by the group include:

• Commission de Construction de Québec (CCQ) collaborative approach to inclusion of First Nation and Inuit Peoples in apprenticeship
• Saskatchewan’s Tiny Home Initiative for increasing Skilled Trades opportunities for Indigenous People
• Overview of Manitoba’s Indigenous Communities and related apprenticeship engagement initiatives
• Exploring options for training apprentices in remote communities without journeypersons
• Discussion on programs and initiatives that promote skilled trades careers to indigenous youth
• Overview of ESDC’s Indigenous Affairs Directorate’s Indigenous Skills Employment Training (ISET) Program
• Overview of Indigenous program initiatives in Alberta (for example the Indigenous and Visible Minority Mobility Program, Top Employer of Indigenous Apprentices Award, et cetera)