The program earmarked a lot of funding for apprenticeship programs and funding for them over the next 20 years. Most of these programs were either completely new, or very small and isolated before hand. I don't think its that unreasonable to have spent more to market these programs at the beginning, so people were aware and able to take advantage of them, rather than spreading that cost out over the life-cycle of the program and seeing much smaller utilization in the early stages.

The program for example:

• Increased funding by $40 million per year in the Apprenticeship Completion Grant

• Create the Canada Apprentice Loan, provide apprentices registered in Red Seal trades with access to over $100 million in interest-free loans each year.

• $1 million over five years, starting in 2015–16, to promote the adoption of the Blue Seal Certification program across Canada.

• Created the Flexibility and Innovation in Apprenticeship Technical Training, funding programs to allow people to partake and train in apprenticeships such as at nights, or on weekends, to work around the traditional schedules.

• Created specialized training and education classes to reduce barriers to the accreditation of apprentices that had qualifications in other countries.

• Extended the Tuition Tax Credit for for Certification Examination Fees

• Apprenticeship Study Grants, up to 10,000$ to pay tuition, travel, tools, or other expenses.

And these are just some of the examples that are specific to the apprenticeship program. Many others that were promoted that have wider effect, but also include those seeking apprenticeships or work in trades.

And by all accounts, the adds have been quite effective, in enrollment in apprenticeships increasing by over 159% since 2014