Ontario Government invests $28 million to promote the Trades and Develop Training Standards

BY PAUL JUNOR

There has been much focus on skilled trades by the Ontario government as it wrestles with how to deal with the scarcity of some specialties within this field. The Ontario government launched a new Crown agency called, “Skilled Trades Ontario,” which replaced the Ontario College of Trades. This new crown agency is expected to “Promote the trades and develop training standards.” In addition, according to Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, Monte McNaughton, it will be directly involved in combating the skilled labour shortage.

There is great hope that this agency will be able to make trade careers more attractive to high school students. The article states that the agency, “Will allow people to schedule classes and exams, submit forms and pay fees in one place.” As early as October 2021, the Ontario provincial government called on the federal government to increase by 200% the number of immigrants in Ontario in order to increase the population of skilled workers.

Minister McNaughton informed the Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser that more skilled workers are needed to address the chronic labour shortage in Ontario. He states,“ We’re asking the new minister and the federal government to double it and do it as quickly as possible. Immigration is one of the key economic drivers of Ontario’s growth, one that can be used strategically to fill critical gaps in labour supply and ultimately create more jobs in our communities.”

In response to the request, Alexander Cohen, spokesperson for the Federal Immigration Minister told the Canadian Press “We are currently reviewing Ontario’s request to increase the number of newcomers under the (program) as we finalize next year’s immigration levels plan.”

Foreign skilled workers, as well as international students, can be nominated for permanent residency status under the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program but it is up to the federal government to okay the applications. In order to deal with the shortage of electricians, Ontario will spend $13 million to make free training and paid internships available to anyone who wants to pursue an electrical program.

This announcement was made at a press conference in Ottawa in which Minister McNaughton states, “Training will open doors for those looking for work and looking to earn more. When you have a job as an electrician, you have an in-demand job for life. These are rewarding and well-paying careers, construction electricians make $34 per hour, industrial electricians earn $36 per hour, industrial electricians earn $36, and power system electricians make, on average $47. Folks, these are just averages, many electricians make more than $50 per hour, and they deserve it.”

The Ontario Electrical Industry Training received about $6.5 million to push the apprenticeship program and the National Electrical Trade Council got $ 4.2 million for two training programs. On Wednesday, March 16^th, 2022, Minister McNaughton announced that $28 million will be invested to pay for pre-apprenticeship training for high school graduates.

Minister McNaughton states, “Ontario continues to face a generational labour shortage. To build a stronger Ontario and grow our economy we need all hands on deck. Every day, there are hundreds of thousands of pay cheques waiting to be collected. My message to young people, to parents, to guidance counsellors, is that there are great career opportunities for people. They provide pay cheques often with pension and benefits.” According to David Stubbs, executive director of Ontario Masonry Training Centre.

Another $28 million we get to continue to grow our workforce and that continuity allows us to build up the training that is required. The ups and downs that have sometimes occurred in the past is what is very difficult when we are putting our apprenticeship program together.”

Melissa Young, CEO, and registrar of Skilled Trades Ontario states, “It is essential that we create greater awareness of the skilled trades as a valuable career path for our youth. Programs that support early consideration and opportunities to explore the trades will ensure that we have the workforce of the future we need.”

The Ontario government plans to spend $200 million as part of the Skills Development Fund to provide specialized programs that link those seeking jobs with the skills and training they require. High school graduates who are interested in the skilled trades as well as recent immigrants can obtain this free training. They can find out about these pre-apprenticeship programs via phone, email or live chat at Employment Ontario.