Apply now for Skills Development Grants(Canada)2026

The Government of Canada Skills for Success Program – Training and Tools Stream provided funding of up to $10 million per project to eligible organizations developing skills training, assessment tools and training resources. The specific call presented here is now closed, with applications having been accepted from January 26 to March 9, 2022. Organizations interested in similar Canada skills development grants should check the latest Government of Canada funding opportunities for a new call.

The Skills for Success Program – Training and Tools Stream was designed to support organizations working to improve foundational and transferable skills among Canadians.

The funding opportunity focused on projects that could help individuals become better prepared for employment, obtain and retain jobs, and adapt to changing workplace requirements.

Under the specific call described by the Government of Canada, eligible organizations could request up to $10 million per project to design and implement training or develop assessment tools and training resources.

However, it is important to note that the official Government of Canada page supplied for this opportunity currently states that the application period is closed. The original application period ran from January 26, 2022 to March 9, 2022, and funded projects were required to end by March 31, 2024.

Background & Grant Description

The Skills for Success Program was established to help Canadians improve foundational and transferable skills needed to participate effectively in the labour market.

The Training and Tools Stream supported organizations developing practical approaches to skills development and encouraged broader adoption of the Skills for Success Model.

The call had two main funding streams:

Training and Tools Stream
Research and Innovation Stream

The information provided here relates specifically to the Training and Tools Stream.

Projects funded under this stream were expected to focus on designing and implementing training and/or developing assessment tools and training resources.

Eligible organizations could request up to $10 million per project.

Grant Objectives

The Training and Tools Stream had two principal objectives.

Objective A: Design and Implement Training

Projects could focus on developing and delivering training designed to help individuals improve foundational and transferable skills and become better prepared to meet workplace demands.

Projects under Objective A were required to involve employers or employer organizations.

The purpose of employer collaboration was to ensure that training addressed current and future skills requirements within particular industries or occupations.

Objective A projects were also expected to be partnership-driven, involving collaboration among organizations that could contribute to successful delivery of the training model.

Potential partners could include:

Employers
Employer organizations
Community organizations
Non-profit organizations
Educational institutions
Training providers
Sector organizations

Objective B: Develop Assessment Tools and Training Resources

Projects could alternatively focus on developing assessment tools and training resources.

Under this objective, the resulting resources were expected to be made available to Canadians:

Online and/or through another accessible format
At no cost

Organizations focusing on both objectives were required to satisfy the additional requirements associated with each objective.

Funding Available

Under the specific call provided, eligible organizations could apply for up to $10 million per project.

The funding was intended to support eligible project activities associated with skills training, assessment tools and training resources.

Projects also needed to demonstrate how they would contribute to the broader adoption and uptake of the Skills for Success Model.

Applicants were expected to include a dissemination and sustainability strategy explaining how project results would be shared with organizations and employers and how useful activities or partnerships could continue beyond the funded project.

Who Was Eligible?

The specific call allowed applications from several categories of organizations.

Eligible applicants included:

Not-for-profit organizations
For-profit organizations where the proposed activity was non-commercial and not intended to generate profit
Labour unions
Municipal governments
Indigenous organizations
Band councils
Tribal councils
Self-government entities
Provincial and territorial governments
Provincial and territorial institutions
Provincial and territorial agencies
Crown corporations

Organizations operating in Quebec were also advised to consider requirements under Quebec’s Ministère du Conseil exécutif (M-30) legislation where applicable.

Eligible Project Requirements

Projects under the Training and Tools Stream had to satisfy specific requirements.

The project could be national, regional or remote in scope.

National Projects

A national project involved activities taking place in more than one province or territory, including activities delivered online.

Regional Projects

Regional projects could involve activities within a province or territory targeting racialized groups and/or Official Language Minority Communities.

Remote Projects

Remote projects were defined using criteria involving a population of fewer than 1,000 people and limited or very little access to services from the closest municipality with a population of 1,000 or more.

Projects were also required to:

Request no more than $10 million.
Focus on eligible skills training and/or assessment tools and training resources.
Support broad adoption of the Skills for Success Model.
Include a dissemination and sustainability strategy.
Ensure access to training was not affected by gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation.
Include a strategy for achieving gender equality in training delivery.

Priority Areas

The Government of Canada indicated that additional consideration could be given to projects targeting certain skills and groups.

Priority could be given to projects addressing:

Collaboration
Communication
Problem solving
Adaptability
Creativity and innovation
Digital skills

Projects serving under-represented groups in the labour market could also receive additional consideration.

These groups included:

Women
Persons with disabilities
Indigenous people
Members of official language minority communities
Newcomers
Racialized groups

The call indicated an intention to allocate approximately 50% of program funding to under-represented groups, with specific portions intended for persons with disabilities and racialized Canadians.

How Applications Were Assessed

Applications were assessed through several stages.

The first stage involved screening applications against mandatory eligibility requirements.

The second stage assessed how well proposed projects addressed the objectives of the Training and Tools Stream.

Additional funding considerations could also be applied.

The assessment considered factors including:

Organizational Capacity

Applicants needed to demonstrate that their organization had relevant experience and capacity to deliver the proposed project.

Project Objectives

Applications were expected to clearly demonstrate alignment with Objective A, Objective B or both.

Project Activities

Activities needed to be clearly described, relevant to the objectives and supported by feasible timelines.

Project Results

Applicants needed to identify results that were:

Specific
Concrete
Measurable

They also needed to explain how results would be collected, measured and reported.

Project Costs

Applicants were required to provide a clear justification for proposed costs and demonstrate that expenses were reasonable, detailed and connected to project activities.

Application Process

For the original call, applicants were required to prepare several documents and pieces of information.

These included:

Completed application form
Budget detail template
Partnership letters for projects under Objective A

Organizations applying online needed a GCOS account.

The applicant guide provided instructions for completing the application.

Applicants could also submit applications by email or mail under the procedures specified in the original call.

The original call provided the following contact email:

EDSC.CPR-SFS.ESDC@servicecanada.gc.ca

However, because the specific call is now closed, applicants should not assume that the old application process or contact information applies to a future funding round.

What Are Foundational and Transferable Skills?

The Skills for Success Model focuses on skills that serve as building blocks for developing other skills, including occupation-specific abilities.

These skills are relevant across different occupations and can also support learning and participation in everyday life.

The source describes the model as applying to Canadians who need to improve their foundational and transferable skills in response to current and future labour-market needs.

Dissemination and Sustainability

A key component of the original funding model was sharing project results more broadly.

A dissemination strategy could involve:

Conferences
Webinars
Meetings
Employer networks
Training institutions
Service-delivery organizations
Labour organizations
Promotional materials
Videos
Infographics
Online resources

A sustainability strategy was also expected to explain how project activities, partnerships or approaches could continue after the funding period.

Important Status Update for 2026 Applicants

The opportunity described in the supplied source should not currently be advertised as an open 2026 application call.

The official Government of Canada page states:

Current status: Closed

The application period for this particular call was:

January 26, 2022 – March 9, 2022 at 3:00 PM Eastern Time

The page also states that funding decisions were expected in late Fall 2022 and that projects under the Training and Tools Stream had to end by March 31, 2024.

Therefore, organizations looking for Canada skills development grants in 2026 should verify whether the Government of Canada has launched a newer Skills for Success funding call before applying.

Conclusion

The Skills for Success Program – Training and Tools Stream was a major Government of Canada funding opportunity supporting organizations developing skills training, assessment tools and training resources.

The specific call provided funding of up to $10 million per project and focused on improving foundational and transferable skills while supporting broader adoption of the Skills for Success Model.

Eligible applicants included non-profit organizations, eligible for-profit organizations, labour unions, municipalities, Indigenous organizations and provincial and territorial public-sector entities.

However, the source supplied for this article confirms that this particular call is closed and dates back to 2022. Applicants seeking funding opportunities in 2026 should check the latest Government of Canada funding announcements rather than relying on the historical application deadline.

Opportunity status: Closed

Original application deadline: March 9, 2022

Maximum funding under the original call: Up to $10 million per project

Source: Government of Canada

Disclaimer: This article is independently published for informational purposes and is not affiliated with the Government of Canada. Funding details, eligibility requirements and deadlines can change between calls. Applicants should consult the latest official Government of Canada funding information before preparing an application.

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