ST. CATHARINES — The Ontario government is investing $10 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream with Ontario Shipyards Inc. to train and upskill workers for careers in the shipbuilding and repair sector. This is part of the government’s up to $1.4 billion investment through the SDF to partner with employers, labour unions and other local organizations to connect jobseekers with employers, grow the province’s workforce and drive Ontario’s productivity.
“We’re proud to invest in the workers who are powering Ontario’s world-class shipbuilding industry here in St. Catharines and in communities across the province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We need all levels of government to step up and recognize the extraordinary potential of this industry and its workers by ensuring that much-needed Canadian vessels are built in Ontario, by Ontario shipbuilders.”
Ontario Shipyards Inc. will deliver training, re-skilling and up-skilling programs for careers in the millwright, welding, electrical and painting trades in St. Catharines, Hamilton and Thunder Bay. Courses will include ship building and ship repair, shipyard orientation and health and safety procedures, along with professional development, leadership training and mentoring to recruit and retain the next generation of leaders and workers.
“Under Premier Ford, our government is proud to partner with major employers across the province to create tens of thousands of highly-skilled, well-paying jobs and ensure local workers have the training and opportunity to thrive in these careers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Today’s announcement is a $10 million investment in manufacturing workers and is yet another example of how our government is delivering better training for workers across the province.”
Applications are open for the government’s fifth round of SDF Training Stream, which opened on July 29, 2024, with up to $260 million in available funding, the largest funding round announced since the Fund launched in 2021. This round of funding brings Ontario’s total investment through the SDF to up to $1.4 billion. As Ontario continues to grow, the SDF will help ensure skilled workers are trained and ready to fill rewarding jobs in in-demand sectors in their communities.
This investment to grow Ontario’s shipbuilding and repair workforce is part of the province’s strategy to strengthen the province’s position as a leader in marine transportation, as outlined in The Future of the Great Lakes Economy: Ontario’s Marine Transportation Strategy.
Quick Facts
To date, the Skills Development Fund Training Stream has supported projects aiming to help nearly 600,000 people train for in-demand jobs, including:
Over 92,000 manufacturing workers
Over 60,000 construction workers
And over 36,000 PSWs and health care workers
Ontario Shipyards Inc. employees interested in participating in the training project announced today are encouraged to contact the company directly.
Over the next decade in Ontario, nearly 9,500 job openings are forecasted for construction millwrights and industrial mechanics, over 9,000 for welders, over 14,600 for electricians and nearly 6,600 are forecasted for painters and decorators (except interior decorators) due to retirements and job growth. About 13,100 of these job openings are expected to be in Central Ontario, which includes the Hamilton-Niagara area.
SDF Training Stream Round 5 applications opened July 29, 2024 and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until October 4, 2024. Organizations including non-profits, Indigenous Skills and Employment Training agreement holders, unions, industry and employer associations, municipalities and other organizations are eligible to submit new and innovative project proposals and apply for funding. Interested organizations can apply through Transfer Payment Ontario and send inquiries to skillsdevelopmentfund@ontario.ca.
The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
Quotes
"Niagara has a strong marine legacy of building ships with remarkable workmanship and skill. This investment from the Skills Development Fund in Ontario Shipyards will provide strong opportunities for good jobs and careers with bigger paycheques for many Niagara workers, as we build world-class ships. This is what getting it done for economic growth looks like in our region."
- Sam Oosterhoff
Associate Minister of Energy-Intensive Industries and MPP for Niagara West
"On behalf of the 250 dedicated employees at Ontario Shipyards, I extend our heartfelt gratitude to Minister Piccini and Premier Ford for their unwavering confidence and support in revitalizing the ship repair and shipbuilding industry in Ontario. Historically, Ontario was the epicentre of shipbuilding in Canada, providing livelihoods to thousands. The Ontario Shipyard Modernization Project made possible through the Skills Development Fund from the Province of Ontario, marks a significant step towards reclaiming Ontario's legacy. This initiative is not just about infrastructure; it's about training and nurturing the next generation of skilled shipyard workers. Our goal is to ensure that Ontario can once again lead in repairing and constructing vessels for our nation, fostering economic growth and creating thousands of high-paying jobs within the communities where our shipyards operate."
- Shaun Padulo
President & CEO, Ontario Shipyards Inc.
"I am excited to see yet another investment in the upskilling of workers in St. Catharines and the Niagara Region. We know that our industrial base is capable of meeting the demands of the 21st-century, with the right training opportunities. The provincial government’s investment is a welcome step for the workers of our community."
- Mat Siscoe
Mayor of St. Catharines
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