May 3, 2012

Manitoba government increases apprenticeship tax credits

The Manitoba government Tuesday announced its Rural and Northern Apprenticeship Training Strategy, which increases the tax credits available to companies that hire apprentices and journeypersons. It is also contributing to mobile training labs operated by Red River College and offering online courses for prospective plumbers, carpenters and refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics.

In a press release, the province stated it plans to increase tax credits available through the Co-op Education and Apprenticeship Tax Credit program. Under the early-level apprenticeship hiring incentive, tax credits will be increases from 10 per cent of apprentices’ pay (to a maximum of $2,000 per year) to 15 per cent, to a maximum of $3,000 per year. Credits available under both the advanced-level apprenticeship hiring incentive and journeypersons hiring incentive will increase from five per cent of wages and salaries to 10 per cent, to a maximum of $5,000 per year per employee.

The higher level of tax credits will be available to employers of apprentices who complete a level after 2012 and to employers of journeypersons who become newly certified after 2012. The tax credit will be calculated on wages and salaries paid to qualified employees, net of any support from government or a public authority.

The province is also expanding the courses available through e-Apprentice, a distance education program for technical training initiated in 2009 and intended to train students in northern and rural communities. Apprenticeship Manitoba is developing courses for future plumbers, refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics (residential and commercial), automotive service technicians, industrial mechanics (millwright) and carpenters. Apprenticeship Manitoba had already developed courses for the 2011-12 academic year for apprentice electricians, water and waste-water technicians, heavy-duty equipment technicians, truck and transport mechanics, agriculture equipment technicians, plus courses in common core math, science communications.

The 2012-13 provincial budget has allocated $400,000 towards two portable labs, used for mobile training, in partnership with Red River College. The 53-foot trailers, which have pop-out sides that function as 950-square-foot labs, are intended to provide hands-on training for apprentices in rural and northern Manitoba.

DCN DIGITAL MEDIA

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