Ont. government releases statement in wake of StatCan report saying mfg. jobs have increased

TORONTO — Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade, issued a statement following a monthly employment release by Statistics Canada, which showed that while employment in Ontario decreased in May 2023, the manufacturing sector saw an increase of 20,100 jobs.

“At a time when the country is still facing inflationary pressures, our government continues to build a resilient economy that can weather any storm. Our targeted and responsible approach supports people and businesses today, while laying a strong foundation for the future. We’re training a world-class workforce, cutting red tape and keeping taxes low, all of which are helping to attract new investments and jobs.

We continue to grow the province’s manufacturing sector and build an end-to-end electric vehicle (EV) supply chain. Over the last two-and-a-half years alone, Ontario has attracted over $25 billion in auto and EV battery-related investments, creating thousands of good-paying jobs.

As we continue to create more opportunities in the auto and manufacturing sectors, our government is investing in programs that will ensure workers can secure good-paying jobs. We recently announced an investment of more than $4.7 million to help over 360 technicians and jobseekers gain the skills they need to transition and launch their careers in the automotive manufacturing sector and emerging EV field.

No matter what the future may hold, Ontario will be ready with our plan to build a strong economy and a strong Ontario.”

The Ont. government is taking responsibility for the manufacturing jobs increase, though the StatCan report did not say how many of the 20,100 manufacturing jobs were in Ontario.