Ontario Supporting Youth in the Skilled Trades  

Government investment will assist the local labour market in Northumberland-Peterborough South 

Keene, August 18th, 2023 The Ontario government is investing $172,500 in the Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA NEO) that offers innovative solutions to hiring, training Northumberland County. This initiative is supported through the government’s Skills Development Fund, a program that offers funding to a wide range of organizations for innovative projects that address Ontario’s labour shortage and stimulate growth in key sectors of the provincial economy.  

“By supporting Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario, the Ontario Government is supporting and developing the workforce for our future” said MPP David Piccini. “It is projects like JA NEO that give students and youth the exposure to the variety of our workforce and introduce the hands-on experience they will need to succeed in our growing economy”.  

Through the Skills Development Fund grant, Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA NEO) will engage students with information and pilot programs to cultivate interest and education in skilled trades. Through these programs, JA NEO will educate students surrounding these careers, help students understand the importance of skilled trades and sustainable career path it will provide, and help to fill the void left by the pandemic. JA NEO will work with our community and business leaders to help youth understand and activate their potential for the jobs of tomorrow. Through this program, youth will learn how to organize and operate a business related to a very important sector of our economy.  

“Junior Achievement is thrilled to receive this grant from the Ontario government’s Skills Development Fund and we are greatly appreciative of MPP Piccini’s support of our application. It is time for community and business leaders to work together to help youth understand and activate potential for the skilled trades jobs of tomorrow” said President & CEO John McNutt.  

JA NEO aims at reaching youth from different communities and populations experiencing barriers and providing an inclusive environment with equitable engagement and learning opportunities for all youth. By the end of the agreement, JA NEO will have delivered 2 World of Choices and 10 Company Programs reaching 2000 students in the community.  

“To build stronger communities, we need to ensure young people have pathways to meaningful employment,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “As a former Junior Achiever, I know how life-changing this program can be. Our investment will give the next generation of leaders the opportunity to participate in hands-on training and develop the skills they need to start rewarding and lucrative careers in the skilled trades.” 

The Skills Development Fund is open to a wide range of applicants, including employers, industry associations, labour unions, municipalities, hospitals and many more. In addition to supporting one-year projects, the fund also allows funding over several years to support longer-term projects. This enables interested organizations to receive funding to provide skills development services and training through a more flexible and tailored approach. 

The funding announced today builds on the government’s continuing mission to attract, support and protect workers, and to make Ontario the best place in the world to work, live and raise a family. In support of this effort, the province recently introduced the third Working for Workers Act and is launching a capital stream of the Skills Development Fund which will help build and upgrade training centres across the province.