Ontario Investing in Training for Apprentices

Capital grants will support upgrades to equipment and training facilities for students

December 02, 2021

SCARBOROUGH — The Ontario government is investing $24 million to improve and modernize equipment and training facilities that support hands-on learning for students and apprentices. These investments ensure apprentices have access to high-quality training as they pursue rewarding careers in the skilled trades.

Details were shared today by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development and Deepak Anand, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister, at Centennial College’s School of Transportation.

“By 2025, one in five jobs in Ontario are expected to be in the skilled trades,” said Minister McNaughton. “Our government is working for workers to ensure the mechanics, welders, and heavy equipment operators of tomorrow have the quality tools and equipment they need to learn the tools of their trade. This investment will give students and apprentices the learning experiences they deserve in the classroom, so they are set up for success on the job site.”

The Apprenticeship Capital Grant program funded 64 training providers and 19 apprenticeship training organizations across the province in 2021-22. Centennial College has invested over $1.6 million to upgrade equipment, including the purchase of three 3D measuring systems and six vehicles equipped with modern computer systems to improve training for future Automotive Service Technicians Apprentices and Auto Body Collision and Damage Repairers.

“As a recipient of the Apprenticeship Capital Grant, Centennial College can attest to the significant impact this funding provided our institution, particularly by enabling us to modernize equipment and offer an unparalleled learning experience to our apprentices as they prepare for rewarding careers in the vibrant skilled trades sector,” said Craig Stephenson, President and CEO of Centennial College.

Other funding recipients in 2021-22 included the Ontario Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre in Oakville, which received $105,000 to build a separate washroom facility for women and create a more inclusive training facility.

Interested organizations can apply for funding until December 21, 2021.

Today’s investment is part of the government’s $1.5 billion investment in its Skilled Trades Strategy between 2020 and 2024. This builds on the government’s ongoing efforts to attract, support, and protect workers, making Ontario the top place in the world to work, live and raise a family.

Quick Facts

There are 144 skilled trades in Ontario.
There are over 315,000 unfilled jobs in Ontario, many of which are in the skilled trades.
Data suggests that the need to replace retiring workers is greater for skilled trades workers than for other occupations. In 2016, nearly one in three journeypersons were aged 55 years or older.
The Apprenticeship Capital Grant is supported by labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

Quotes

“By making it easier for youth to explore opportunities in the skilled trades, we can encourage more young people to pursue a postsecondary path that leads to rewarding, lucrative careers. Increasing access to training needed for a career in the skilled trades for those traditionally underrepresented will also strengthen the diversity and long-term health of our workforce.”

– Jill Dunlop
Minister of Colleges and Universities

“I commend the ongoing commitment of Minister Monte McNaughton to enhance the quality of skilled trades training. The ACG has supported Sheridan as a leader in training delivery and expanding our capacity to engage with students and industry partners, including a new Wire Electric Discharge Machine. The equipment supports Tool and Die apprentices in advanced manufacturing practices and to learn transferable CNC programming skills, helping to fill employment gaps in the manufacturing industry.”

– Lindsay Engel
Dean of Applied Science and Technology, Sheridan College

“The Ontario Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre is extremely happy with the continued support from the Ontario government. Through grants like these, we have had the opportunity to construct more inclusive facilities to support gender equality in our industry. In the past, these particular grants have given us the ability to improve health and safety, as well as modernizing the equipment that the apprentices see in our shops and labs. The grants have provided an enriched learning environment, focusing on hands-on learning.”

– Scott Wood
Provincial Training Director, Ontario Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre