ONTARIO INVESTING OVER $4.2 MILLION TO TRAIN 340 WORKERS IN HAMILTON
Skills Development Fund investing in new training program
HAMILTON — The Ontario government is investing $4,276,000 through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) in two new training programs to train 340 workers in Hamilton for in-demand careers. This latest round of funding brings Ontario’s total investment through the Skills Development Fund to up to $1.4 billion.
“Under Premier Ford, our government has an ambitious plan to build Ontario: from new housing that families can call home, to highways and public transit connecting our communities, and clean energy projects powering our economy. But after years of neglect and under-investment in the trades from previous Liberal governments, one in three tradespeople are nearing retirement,”said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why we’re partnering with local employers, unions, and educators to pass on the expertise and wisdom of the Golden Generation of Skilled Tradespeople to the next generation of students, apprentices, and workers who will build Ontario’s bright future.”
In partnership with 2533595 Ontario Inc – Blue Branch, the Ontario government is investing $4,000,000 to train the next generation of workers to build modular housing at an accelerated pace. After six weeks of hands on training, 100 participants will be ready to work with NOW Housing staff to build a six unit CSA approved residential building.
In partnership with the John Howard Society, the Ontario government is investing $276,000 to expand the successful WorkPath program to address the employment challenges faced by individuals with criminal records. The project aims to help justice-involved individuals reintegrate into the workforce.
“Our government remains committed to addressing the province’s labour shortage and helping more people find meaningful work,” said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook. “This investment through the Skills Development Fund will allow workers to become properly trained in in-demand jobs in the Hamilton region.”
Through the SDF, the government is investing up to $1.4 billion through SDF’s Training Stream and the Capital Streamwhich are designed to recruit, train and upskill workers and build or upgrade training centres for the skilled trades.
Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s Skills Development Fund has helped connect approximately 600,000 workers train or upskill for careers in the trades in their local communities, including over 92,000 manufacturing workers, over 66,000 construction workers, over 36,000 PSWs and healthcare workers, and over 27,000 mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction workers.
Quick Facts
- Ontario’s $224 million SDF Capital Stream was launched by Premier Ford in June 2023.
- People interested in participating in the programs announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.
- The Capital Stream of the Skills Development Fund is exclusively funded by the Government of Ontario.
- The Training Stream of the Skills Development Fund is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
- As the Government of Canada has unilaterally cut over $230 million annually from Ontario’s Labour Market Transfer Agreements, which support employment and settlement service programs, Ontario continues to call for the federal government to reinstate this critical funding for Ontario workers and jobseekers.
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