FAQ

Step 1

Complete the following forms and provide the following documents to get registered:

1. Skills Development Fund Employer Online Form (completed by employer)
2. Skills Development Fund Participant (Apprentice) Online Form (completed by apprentice)
3. EFT Enrollment Form (Please include a void cheque or a Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement)
4. EEP Employer Support for Apprentice Success Declaration

Step 2

Provide robyn.hayden@oel.org with the apprentice’s Registered Training Agreement (RTA). Claims cannot be process without one provided.

Once these forms have been received, you will receive and email requesting the following.

Step 3

Complete the following forms and provide the following documents to process a claim:

1. OEL Claim Form. be sure to sign and date the bottom. (Please do not fill in the grey areas).
2. Submit the apprentice’s most recent paystub showing the Year to Date (YTD) along with a void cheque or Pre-Authorized Debit Agreement.

Once all forms and documents have been submitted, you will receive a confirmation email. Please note that it can take up to 4 weeks to receive a payment.

Each employer is allowed to register and claim for 2 apprentices for the wage subsidy. They can also claim 2 apprentices for the equipment subsidy, but it does not have to be the same 2 apprentices that were registered for the wage subsidy. It also does not have to be the same 2 apprentices when you are claiming for the training subsidy.

No, you do not have to be an OEL member. All employers, OEL members and non-members in a trade that we support, will be able to benefit from our project. This includes the following trades:

• 309A Electrician – Construction and Maintenance
• 309C Residential Electrician
• 434A Powerline Technician
• 442A Industrial Electrician
• 306A Plumber
• 313A Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
• 313D Residential Air Conditioning Systems Mechanic
• 308A Sheet Metal Worker
• 308R Residential (Low-rise) Sheet Metal Installer

1. Wage Subsity (apprentice who have worked for an employer (you) for a minimum of 6 weeks are eligible). You are allowed to register a maximum of 2 apprentices per program cycle.
   1. 1^st year apprentices must submit paystubs showing a gross income of at least $10,000 to receive a 50% reimbursement ($5,000) this can be done little by little or with the most recent paystub showing a YTD of $10,000. It can date back as far as January 1, 2024.
   2. 2-5^th year apprentices must submit paystubs showing a gross income of at least $5,000 to receive a 50% reimbursement ($2,500) this can be done little by little or with the most recent paystub showing a YTD of $10,000. It can date back as far as January 1, 2024. NOTE: If you received the 1st-year wage subsidy for an apprentice in the 2023-24 EEP, your apprentice must reach the 1-year anniversary of their Training Agreement before we can start the wage subsidy payment and pay stubs must be submitted starting from the 1-year anniversary date.

   Participants (apprentices) employer must submit their Registered Training Agreement (RTA), which is one of the documents needed to qualify.

2. Equipment Subsidy

   All apprentices are allowed to claim a maximum of $250 worth of work equipment. This can be anything from safety boots, tools, work gear, safety harness, etc. female apprentices get an additional $500. Maximum, totalling $750.

   Please note that you are able to submit claims for a maximum of 2 apprentices, however, they do not have to be the same 2 apprentices submitted for the wage subsidy.

3. Training

   Each employer can receive up to a maximum of $1,000 for training. This can be an on-site, off site, online, in person training. It can also be group training. However, if it is group training, a minimum of 1 apprentice must be included and it must all be paid and completed prior to submitting a claim.

   Up to $1,000 of funding per contractor is available for an unlimited number of employees if at least 1 apprentice is an official participant.

4. Personal/Professional Development

   The PPD fund is the newest addition to our program. It provides employers up to $1,000 for each apprentice (unlimited apprentices) who find themselves struggling with learning disabilities or mental health issues such as ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, depression, etc.

   For example, if you have an apprentice who has failed the CofQ exam and is struggling to pass, we provide up to $1,000 for a tutor, class, or any form of exam preparation of your choosing. Or if you have an apprentice who needs mental health resources that are not covered under the Ontario Health Insurance Plan, we provide up to $1,000 for those additional resources.

Female apprentices get an additional $500 on top of the $250 for all apprentices due to the cost of the female harness.

You are able to submit claims for wages backdating to January 1, 2024. As for equipment, training, and PPD, you can only submit claims backdating to March 31, 2024.

Apprentices must be working for the employer submitting the claims for a minimum of 6 weeks.

An RTA is a Registered Training Agreement that each apprentice must register for in order to be an official apprentice and collect apprenticeship hours towards their certification. We need this as proof that your apprentice is officially registered.

You can contact Robyn Hayden at robyn.hayden@oel.org or RoseMary MacVicar-Elliot at rosemary@oel.org if you have any questions.

You can submit as many claims as needed until you have maxed out the subsidy allowance.

Click on the forms link at the top with the steps to apply for EEP to find all the forms needed for submission.

It can take up to 4 weeks after a claim has been submitted. However, claims cannot be made for equipment or training unless it has been purchased and completed.

We send money based on the accounting information we’re provided via void cheque or Direct Deposit form. We have eliminated the process of issuing cheques, ensuring prompt payment as well as a more secure and convenient payment system.

No, we do not send money to apprentices. We would reimburse the employer, and they will have to reimburse the apprentice.

That depends on the funding you receive and from where. Please contact robyn.hayden@oel.org or rosemary@oel.org for further details.

If you are unclear about the qualifications of a submission, please contact robyn.hayden@oel.org or rosemary@oel.org prior to making a purchase for equipment or training.

Currently, we only provide the funding. Employers must source out their own resources. However, we are currently creating a resource library to further assist employers who are part of the Apprentice Success Project.

Members can use our online Member portal to access the Member Directory to find licensed electrical contractors near them, as well as other businesses and industry organizations that are OEL Members. OEL is unable to recommend specific electricians or other professionals.

Volunteers are the heartbeat of OEL. Members can start volunteering at the Chapter level, getting involved to help run/manage the Chapter’s meetings, events, etc. They can also join our monthly Contractor Committee or volunteer to participate in focus groups, research, or other activities that we may be conducting. There is also potential to become a member of our Board of Directors, which is made up of volunteers.

Volunteers are also needed to serve on OEL committees and industry committees, such as those with the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA), part of the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). Watch the website and Weekly Dialogue to see announcements about these opportunities.

The Contractor Committee (CC) provides relevant information to contractors and is a place for these members to voice their opinions. All OEL Member contractors are welcome to attend CC meetings, usually held on the third Friday of the month (excluding July, August and December). If a member has an issue they would like addressed at the CC, they can bring this to the attention of their Chapter representative or contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382 or league@oel.org about it.

Members can also reach out via email to ecra@oel.org for queries related to the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA) or coac@oel.org for issues pertaining to the Contractor Advisory Council.

Young professionals are vital to OEL’s and Ontario’s future. Currently, related initiatives include presenting 3 Apprentice Days in different areas of Ontario to help apprentices build connections with their peers and obtain information about their levelled schooling, etc. to succeed. OEL also offers volunteer opportunities for young professionals from time to time. Watch the website or contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382 or email us at league@oel.org, for details.

Yes, you are welcome to attend your two-chapter meeting as a non-member. There is a non-member rate attendance fee for some Chapters. We also encourage you to consider joining OEL to enjoy the many benefits of membership. A variety of membership packages are available to meet your needs.

Check out our Events calendar for details about the meetings and contact people at your local Chapter. You can also reach out to your Chapter President, or the OEL Member Services Representatives listed on OEL Chapters.

Learn from industry experts, expand your skills and grow your network at OEL events like local Chapter meetings, Roadshows and training sessions. If you’re a contractor, our events, such as Chapter meetings, are excellent places to meet your counterparts and compare notes about what’s working and how you can solve common problems. To stay abreast of all OEL happenings, visit our Events Calendar. Members can also watch for details in our Weekly Dialogue e-newsletter.

To register online for an OEL Chapter meeting, training (i.e., fire alarm technician) or another event, visit our Events Calendar. You will be prompted to log in with the email and password for your OEL account. If you need assistance with registering, please contact the OEL Hotline at (905) 238-1382 or email us at league@oel.org.

OEL can often help you or direct you to resources for legal advice, human resources/labour issues and government funding and supports. If you are an OEL Member, some of your Membership benefits are designed to assist you in these areas. For more information, please contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382, email us at league@oel.org, or reach out to one of our Member Services Representatives from the Contact Us page.

The OEL Job Board is one resource that employers can use to recruit apprentices. Contractors turn to a variety of measures, including co-op education programs at their local secondary schools, to find young people who are interested in working in the skilled trades. IMPORTANT: When hiring, remember the provincial ratio rules for your trade. For example, there is a 1:1 ratio in the electrical trade, so contractors must employ 1 licensed electrician.

There are two options for registering or “signing up” an apprentice so he/she gets a Registered Training Agreement (RTA) and is officially recognized as an apprentice by the Province of Ontario. NOTE: Apprentices must be registered before they can carry out work in an apprentice’s scope of practice for work.

Employer Registration: As an employer, you and your apprentice can work directly with Skilled Trades Ontario to have the apprentice registered. To get started, visit the STO website. You will need a Sponsor ID Number to start the process online. STO can advise you on how to obtain this number if you don’t already have one from registering apprentices previously. You may also want to reach out to your local Employment Ontario Apprenticeship Office for assistance.

Group Sponsor Registration: You can also use a group apprentice sponsor, such as Support Ontario Youth (SOY), an OEL partner, will take care of the required paperwork and steer the application process for you. There is no charge for this service, and it can save you a lot of time. SOY appears as the apprentice’s sponsor on the completed Training Agreement. For more information, contact SOY at phone (647) 693-8939, info@supportontarioyouth.ca.

OEL’s 2024-25 EEP: Employer Support for Apprentice Success Project (link to PDF or EEP page on site) provides contractors with subsidies for apprentice wages, work equipment and training. Other benefits include convenient online business training to lay the groundwork for successful operations that support apprentice success, mental health supports and apprentice networking and education events. To learn more, contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382 or league@oel.org, or reach out to one of your local Member Services Representatives.

Learn from industry experts, expand your skills and grow your network at OEL events like local Chapter meetings, Roadshows and training sessions. If you’re a contractor, our events, such as Chapter meetings, are excellent places to meet your counterparts and compare notes about what’s working and how you can solve common problems. To stay abreast of all OEL happenings, visit our Events Calendar. Members can also watch for details in our Weekly Dialogue e-newsletter.

To register online for an OEL Chapter meeting, training (i.e., fire alarm technician) or another event, visit our Events Calendar. You will be prompted to log in with the email and password for your OEL account. If you need assistance with registering, please contact the OEL Hotline at (905) 238-1382 or email us at league@oel.org.

OEL can often help you or direct you to resources for legal advice, human resources/labour issues and government funding and supports. If you are an OEL Member, some of your Membership benefits are designed to assist you in these areas. For more information, please contact the OEL Hotline - (905) 238-1382, email us at league@oel.org, or reach out to one of our Member Services Representatives from the Contact Us page.