August 14, 2026
Hon. John Zerucelli, PC, MP
Secretary of State (Labour)
Employment and Social Development Canada
Dear Secretary Zerucelli:
On behalf of the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), I am writing to applaud the Government of Canada for the investment in The Educational Partnership Foundation (TEPF) recently announced to help young Canadians pursue careers in the skilled trades. This is precisely the kind of forward-looking investment Canada needs. AMFA believes the same urgency should be extended to Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AMEs) and AME Apprentices across Canada.
As we have discussed previously, Canada faces a serious and growing shortage of qualified AMEs. Yet Aircraft Maintenance Engineer is not among the trades currently promoted through TEPF, despite the clear and growing need to attract more Canadians to this critical occupation.
These highly skilled, federally licensed professionals perform safety-sensitive work fundamental to operating our aviation system. Developing a licensed AME requires specialized technical education, extensive practical experience, and satisfaction of rigorous licensing requirements. The workforce therefore cannot be replenished quickly, and the situation worsens as the average age of AMEs continues to rise. From the first day of college to becoming a freshly licensed AME is at minimum a five-year pathway, with expertise and specialization taking years beyond that point. The safety-critical nature of this profession dictates almost ten years of experience to be considered a “fully qualified AME.”
The existing shortage of AMEs continues to constrain maintenance capacity, place additional pressure on the existing workforce, and ultimately affects the ability of Canadian carriers to maintain and expand reliable service, particularly to regional, northern and remote communities. The problem is projected to worsen moving forward with the peak shortage predicted into 2027-2028 as the aging workforce retires and new enrolment continues to decline.
In early 2026, you encouraged AMFA to apply for federal funding announced in Budget 2025 to support workforce development. We appreciated that encouragement and immediately pursued funding with Employment and Social Development Canada. We believe your government's investment this week in the skilled trades reinforces the case for developing comparable support for Canadians pursuing careers as AMEs.
AMEs undertake sophisticated mechanical, electrical, avionics, and diagnostic work and assume extraordinary responsibility for public safety. Yet they do not consistently benefit from the same training, apprenticeship, and completion supports available to many Red Seal trades. As AMEs are federally regulated, we hold the same interprovincial transportability that Red Seal establishes for provincially regulated trades. This is a relevant designation for our trade, in that prospective apprentices can move freely across the country to follow employment opportunities. AMEs are essentially equal in this sense to Red Seal Certification in that the highest standard is applied to all AMEs regardless of which Province they are employed and operating within. Transport Canada holds all AMEs to the same account regardless of location; this ought to be recognized by Red Seal Certification for AMEs.
AMFA now urges the Government of Canada to extend funding or adapt existing programs to provide support to AME apprenticeship training. This could include assistance for students enrolled in Transport Canada-approved programs, support for employers providing required workplace experience, and investments in training capacity, instructors, and equipment. It could also – as we have previously discussed – include recognizing federally regulated trades with an equivalency to “Red Seal” programs so that those professions can access specifically earmarked funding.
This is not simply an investment in the aviation industry. It is an investment in Canada's transportation infrastructure, economic resilience and public safety.
AMFA is keen for the Government of Canada to extend funding to support the next generation of Canadian Aircraft Maintenance Engineers. We are hopeful you will encourage ESDC officials to act.
Sincerely,
Ian Evershed
Region IV Director, AMFA National
