Federal ministers announce plan to support union training and recruit 100,000 Red Seal workers

Patty Hajdu, minister of Jobs and Families and minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, and John Zerucelli, secretary of state for Labour, issued a joint statement marking Labour Day on Sept. 7, 2026.

The statement says the federal government is expanding the Union Training and Innovation Program to help union-run training centres grow and equip the next generation of tradespeople.

The ministers said the government and its union partners aim to recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 new Red Seal certified workers over the next five years.

“Workers are the backbone of this country’s success,” Hajdu and Zerucelli said in the statement.

The statement also says the federal government is working with provincial and territorial partners to align occupational health and safety requirements across jurisdictions, particularly in construction.

It says the government remains committed to combating forced labour and supporting responsible business practices that protect human rights and create a level playing field for Canadian workers and businesses.

The ministers also said tariff action is threatening many industries and that the federal government will stand alongside unions to provide workers with financial and training supports.

The statement concludes with a Labour Day message from the ministers: “Happy Labour Day.”