Ont. announces $7M investment to provide training for skilled trades careers

MILTON — The Ontario government is investing over $7.3 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) toward three free training projects in Milton to help more than 700 workers and jobseekers prepare for in-demand careers in the skilled trades. This brings Ontario’s total investment in Milton training projects through the fund to over $20 million.

“As Milton’s population grows four times faster than the provincial average, our government is working with labour and industry partners to open up new training and apprenticeship opportunities for local workers and jobseekers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “The projects that we’re supporting today showcase the diverse careers in Ontario’s 144 skilled trades: from welding to landscaping to working with animals, the skilled trades offer well-paying, highly in-demand, meaningful careers for hardworking Ontarians.”

The Ontario government is partnering with industry to deliver free training programs, including:

• Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association: $4,424,140 is committed for the GROW & Apprenticeship training program to attract, recruit, and train new and young workers in the landscape and horticultural sector. The GROW & Apprenticeship program has prepared 298 people for rewarding careers in horticulture and landscaping since 2022.
• Ontario Harness Horse Association: $2,404,000 to deliver the Ontario Equine Education and Employment Program which will offer skills training and paid job placement opportunities.
• CWB Group-Industry Services: $551,000 to deliver a welder training program for underrepresented groups, including women, youth, newcomers, people with disabilities, and Indigenous peoples.

This investment is part of the government’s more than $1.5 billion Skilled Trades Strategy to create training opportunities with labour and industry partners, connect jobseekers with employers, and help more Ontarians land a better job with a bigger paycheque.

“Thanks to the generous support of Premier Doug Ford and Minister Piccini, the Welder Competency Assessment and Skills Training (WCAST) program will provide full-cycle support to newcomers and other underrepresented groups in their pursuit of a career in the welding and joining industry in Ontario. WCAST expands on the success of the CWB Group’s Welder Competency and Credential Assessment (WCCA) program by not only assessing an applicant’s knowledge in welding against Canadian standards, but also providing them the learning and training opportunities required for their targeted needs. This program will help address the labour needs of Ontario’s welding industry, while also providing meaningful opportunities for newcomers and other individuals in the province,” says Doug Luciani, President and CEO, CWB Group.