The Government of Canada highlights workforce investments and measures to lower energy costs and reduce emissions

The world is changing rapidly, and Canada is choosing to build. Major projects across the country will strengthen our economy, diversify trade and create good jobs across the country. Delivering these projects and supporting continued economic growth will require a skilled workforce ready to meet growing demand.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, while visiting Klimit Mechanical Ltd. in Ontario highlighted the landmark $2 billion investment over eight years announced by Prime Minister Carney to help Canadians reduce energy costs and improve home energy efficiency. The initiative will support up to one million home retrofits across the country, making homes and buildings more comfortable, affordable, and sustainable. Through the Sectoral Workforce Innovation Fund (SWIF), the Government is also building the skilled workforce needed to deliver this work.

Today, Minister Hajdu also announced an investment of up to $258.6 million over five years, with $50 million ongoing, through SWIF, which will help address critical skilled labour shortages through industry-led solutions aligned with federal priorities and industrial strategies.

The Government of Canada is looking for ambitious, industry-driven projects that respond to pressing workforce needs and deliver results for workers and employers. Projects should help key sectors and regions recruit, train and retain skilled workers, while helping Canadians build in-demand skills and access good, well-paying jobs.

The call for proposals under SWIF was launched on August 28, 2026. Organizations can submit project ideas through a continuous intake, with priority given to strong projects that bring together trainers and employers, and support federal priorities, industrial strategies, national projects and other pressing workforce needs.

SWIF is part of a broader approach to ensuring Canada has the people and skills needed to deliver on its economic ambitions. Alongside the six Workforce Alliances and other skills investments, the Fund will help connect workforce needs with the industries, projects and priorities driving Canada’s future growth.

The Fund will complement Team Canada Strong, an $8 billion investment to recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 Red Seal skilled trades workers by 2030-31 to help build Canada’s housing, infrastructure and defence priorities.

Across the country, the Government of Canada is building the infrastructure communities need for the decades ahead. As more homes, vehicles, and businesses run on electricity, Canada will need cleaner power and will need to use it efficiently. A retrofitted home supports both. It wastes less energy, costs families less, and produces fewer emissions. By retrofitting one million homes, Canada can reduce its emissions by over 25 megatons.

Getting this work done depends on a skilled workforce. Through SWIF, the Government is helping address immediate labour shortages, while Team Canada Strong is bringing more Canadians into the skilled trades for the long term. Together, these efforts are building the workforce to deliver retrofits across the country, as well as the major projects that will make Canada stronger.