Financial Support for Tradespersons

More Opportunity for Skilled Trades (MOST): Provincial Income Tax Rebate

Through the MOST program, those under the age of 30 (in the tax year) and who are employed and registered as an apprentice or a certified journeyperson in an eligible skilled trade will receive a rebate on provincial income tax paid on the first $50,000 of income earned.

Eligible workers can apply for their rebate after they file their 2022 income tax return and receive a notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency.

For more information about eligibility or to apply, e-mail most@novascotia.ca or visit the Government of Nova Scotia’s website.

Through the MOST program, those under the age of 30 (in the tax year) and who are employed and registered as an apprentice or a certified journeyperson in an eligible skilled trade will receive a rebate on provincial income tax paid on the first $50,000 of income earned.

Eligible workers can apply for their rebate after they file their 2022 income tax return and receive a notice of assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency.

For more information about eligibility or to apply, e-mail most@novascotia.ca or visit the Government of Nova Scotia’s website.

Tradesperson's Tools Tax Deduction (of up to $500) and HST Rebate

Tradespersons may be able to deduct the cost of eligible tools they bought to earn employment income as a tradesperson. This cost includes any GST and provincial sales tax (PST) or HST they paid.

 MORE INFO at the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Tradespersons may also be eligible for an HST Rebate.

Tradespersons may be able to deduct the cost of eligible tools they bought to earn employment income as a tradesperson. This cost includes any GST and provincial sales tax (PST) or HST they paid.

 MORE INFO at the Canada Revenue Agency website.

Tradespersons may also be eligible for an HST Rebate.

Journeyperson Financial Incentive Program

Journeyperson Financial Incentive Program

The Journeyperson Financial Incentive Program is an initiative to support and recognize journeypersons for the vital role they play as primary trainers within the apprenticeship system. The purpose of the program is to encourage more journeypersons to take an active role in mentoring apprentices, and to increase the number of apprentices progressing and becoming certified. 

Watch the webinar below to learn more about the program.

Journeyperson Financial Incentive Program

The Journeyperson Financial Incentive Program is an initiative to support and recognize journeypersons for the vital role they play as primary trainers within the apprenticeship system. The purpose of the program is to encourage more journeypersons to take an active role in mentoring apprentices, and to increase the number of apprentices progressing and becoming certified. 

Watch the webinar below to learn more about the program.

Overview, FAQ and Summary Documents

When does the program start? 

The program officially launches on July 31, 2024. 

Employers will be contacted via email throughout the month of August and asked to nominate up to five journeypersons for every apprentice who progressed to the next level of their apprenticeship between August 1st and July 31st each year. 

How does the program work? 

The Journeyperson Financial Incentive Program is an annual program and incentives will be paid once per year. For every apprentice in your workplace that progressed to the next level of their apprenticeship between August and July, employers can nominate up to five (5) journeypersons that helped train, mentor and support the progression of the apprentice. 

What are the eligibility criteria? 

To be eligible, journeypersons must: 

  • be Red Seal Endorsed and/or hold a Certificate of Qualification,
  • have completed approved mentoring training, 
  • be actively engaged in the advancement/training of apprentices and nominated by their employer, 
  • be working for the same employer as the apprentice, and 
  • be working and residing in Nova Scotia. 

What is an approved mentoring training course?

Introduction to Mentorship, a training module of the Mentorship Matters suite of courses, is an approved mentoring training course. It is a
90-minute, self-directed module, delivered virtually and offered through SkillPlan.

Mentorship Matters will be made available for free to eligible journeypersons who have been nominated by their employer for the incentive.

How do I access mentoring training? 

Journeypersons who have been nominated by their employers for the Journeyperson Financial Incentive will receive an enrolment email from SkillPlan with instructions on how to access the Mentorship Matters course.

How much is the incentive? 

The financial incentive is $2500 and will be equally divided amongst all eligible journeypersons nominated by the employer who supported the apprentice’s progression. For example, if one journeyperson is nominated and meets all the eligibility criteria, they will receive a payment of $2500. If five journeypersons are nominated and all are deemed eligible, each will receive a payment of $500. Journeypersons can receive the incentive for more than one apprentice. 

How do I apply? 

You must be nominated by your employer. Each year, employers will be contacted and asked to nominate journeypersons for every apprentice that progressed in the past year. Employers can nominate up to 5 journeypersons per apprentice. 

How do I receive the financial incentive? 

Employers will be asked to provide your contact information on the nomination form. A cheque will be mailed to you at the address provided. 

Contact Information 

For more information, please contact the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency: