Ontario Investing Up to $260 Million to Train Workers

 The Ontario government’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream opens today, with up to an additional $260 million available, the biggest funding round since the Fund launched in 2021. Building on the success of the previous four rounds, the fifth round will help tackle Ontario’s labour shortage by connecting jobseekers with employers, allowing them to begin rewarding careers in in-demand sectors such as manufacturing, construction and technology.

“Under Premier Ford, our government has revived our province’s manufacturing and construction sectors – and the key to our success is Ontario’s workers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Today, our government launches the fifth round of our Skills Development Fund, with up to $260 million available in funding – making this the largest round yet and the biggest investment in skills training in Ontario’s history. We are calling on Ontario’s business and labour communities and everyone with an interest in training workers to submit their proposals and help us build Ontario.”

Beginning today, employers, employment service and training providers, labour unions, business and industry organizations, municipalities, hospitals, Indigenous Band offices, Indigenous skills and employment training agreement holders, service system managers and other community organizations eligible for funding should submit their proposals through Transfer Payment Ontario. Applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until October 4, 2024.

This latest round of funding brings Ontario’s total investment through the Skills Development Fund to up to $1.4 billion. As Ontario continues to grow, the SDF will help ensure skilled workers are trained and ready to fill rewarding jobs in in-demand sectors in their communities.

“The Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario is a proud recipient of Skills Development Funding that has allowed us to grow and expand programs to attract more Ontarians to consider a career in the skilled trades including more women and diverse youth through Ontario Building and Construction Tradeswomen and Tomorrow’s Trades. These investments have allowed us to work closely with industry partners to develop an innovative model to better coordinate workforce preparation for upcoming major projects – that is, recruiting new people to the industry – to meet demand.”

Marc Arsenault
Business Manager of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario

“The Skills Development Fund monies are providing the OGCA with the development of bridging programs that more quickly acclimate new graduates and new-comers to Canada who have obtained an education as a Project Coordinator and want to be a Project Manager in construction. Additionally, these monies are helping to create an upskilling program that allows contractors to identify and assess existing workers, regardless of background, who would be good candidates for Site Supervisors positions. The OGCA would like to thank the Government for the Skills Development Funding program and we want to communicate that when you allow a solution for an industry to be developed by that industry, you will get profound effects.”

Giovanni Cautillo
President, Ontario General Contractors Association

EN: https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1004873/ontario-investing-up-to-260-million-to-train-workers

FR: https://news.ontario.ca/fr/release/1004873/lontario-investit-jusqua-260-millions-de-dollars-dans-la-formation-des-travailleurs