due to changing circumstances we are now not moving to Canada for 5 years when I will be 43 years old, is this too old to start again in the canadian job market? I hope to work as a plumber, thanks

43 and a plumber is not to old.
You are of course a qualified plumber with over 2 years work experience?

Doing my last year of level 3 then try at get some work expeirience, probably have to try and get on some sort of apprenticeship scheme in Canada if they take old un's

What visa are you planning on going on? That will affect whether or not you can do an apprenticeship.

Also, I assume that you're aware of the Red Seal? You'd need to get it to work in Canada and would have to show a certain number of hours for that which cannot include any apprenticeships (i.e. an electrician requires 9000 hours, not sure about plumber though, but details in the Wiki or Google it). So are you sure you'd be able to work as a plumber, would you have enough hours to get Red Seal?

But in any event, 43 is definitely not too old!

Good luck.

Ah! Thats it your a squaddie!
Do not quote me but I believe that you will only be qualified as an apprentice and will need around 2 years fulltime employment as a Plumber. Also red seal as mentioned!
Are you the main applicant?
What is your current job? cant you do something else for a couple of years to get in (driver etc?)

Red Seal is in itself not a qualification, it is a standards program that allows already qualified trades to practice their trade across Canada. Each province still certifies their trades people. Apprenticies can still fall under the auspices of Red Seal. Not all trades fall under Red Seal either, but the list is expanding. Plumbers are a Red Seal trade though. Do a Google search for Red Seal Canada and you'll get a wealth of information. ITA administer the program in BC http://www.itabc.ca/Page496.aspx

What utter Bollocks, **** you never to old. People always need cheap plumber. Sites like http://www.kijiji.ca/ make finding work for yourself easy. just a post a free ad and work will roll Even ads in the local paper work. It will help until you find steady employer if you don't want to work for yourself.

hopefully going across on the spousal sponsorship route

i came to toronto 12 months ago at 51 having worked as a plumber since i was 15 i have my two boys with me one is a licenced plumber the youngest is a registered apprentice, i have a masters licence and a contractors licence. this has cost a lot of time and money. employers here will pay peanuts if you are inexperienced and unlicensed.most of the plumbers on kijiji or craigslist are unlicensed. there are very few plumbing jobs advertised on these sites and when they are you will probably find a re- comment posted about being ripped off by them. if you work for yourself people here generally do not like parting with there money especially businesses.
i am sorry if this is not wanted to hear. i tell it how it is.

I'm currently 45 years old and feeling unemployable.

1. Lie about your age if you can.
2. Purchase and use hair dye.

You don't need RedSeal for Ontario. You do need to sit the Apprenticeship exam to be a licensed plumber. To do this you have to present evidence that you have the relevant training and experience. The pass mark is something like 80%. It's very hard to find any books that cover the Ontario syllabus to help you study. We never found a Canadian book at all. Colleges in our area rarely do evening classes in the subjects.

So apart from that, no you aren't too old.