Ontario Working for Workers by Investing in Training for Good Jobs in Sarnia-Lambton
Province is helping workers in Sarnia-Lambton earn bigger paycheques and advance their careers in the trades
NEWS
April 21, 2022
Sarnia-Lambton — The Ontario government is working for workers by investing $225,682 in a new skills development initiative led by LiUNA Local 1089. This project will seek to recruit new workers in Sarnia-Lambton, especially those from First Nations communities, persons with disabilities, women’s groups and racialized community groups, for careers in the trades. It will also increase outreach initiatives to elementary and high school students to raise awareness of training and opportunities available to pursue in-demand and well-paying jobs in our community.
Today’s announcement was made by Bob Bailey, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton, on behalf of Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development.
“This investment by our government will help more workers in Sarnia-Lambton launch good paying, in-demand careers,” said MPP Bailey. “This initiative by LiUNA Local 1089 is a great example of how our government continues to work with the labour community to help create opportunities for everyone in our local area and support our future economic growth.”
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 in Ontario were aged 55 years or older. In the fall of 2021 there were more than 360,000 jobs vacant in Ontario.
“LiUNA’s industry leading training is a gateway to building prosperous careers through the construction industry,” said Chad Hogan, LiUNA Local 1089 Training Director. “With the ongoing support of the Ontario government and the Skills Development Fund, LiUNA continues to introduce innovative training and outreach programs to attract new workers, including those from historically under represented groups, and modernize the skilled trades to ensure that Ontario has the strongest, safest, and most job ready workforce in the country.”
This initiative is supported through the government’s Skills Development Fund, which has provided over $200 million in funding for innovative projects that address challenges to hiring, training, or retraining workers during the pandemic.
“Our government is working for workers every day. Through our Skills Development Fund, we’re giving workers the training they need to fill in-demand jobs, earn bigger paycheques and advance in rewarding careers that make their families and communities stronger,” said Minister McNaughton. “Our government has a workers-first plan to deliver a stronger Ontario. As we build today for a better tomorrow, we need all hands on deck. We’re leaving nobody behind and we’re getting it done.”
This investment 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. It follows legislation Minister McNaughton passed recently that provides foundational rights for digital platform workers, requirements for employers to disclose their electronic monitoring of employees and for businesses in high-risk settings to have Naloxone kits on hand, as well as several red tape reductions to encourage out-of-province workers to help fill the generational labour shortage.
Quick Facts
- Ontario’s Skills Development Fund is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Additional Resources
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Media Contacts:
Bob Bailey, MPP
bob.bailey@pc.ola.org
519-337-0051