BELLEVILLE — The Ontario government is investing more than $890,000 to deliver a comprehensive suite of training programs for up to 3,775 workers and jobseekers in Belleville for in-demand careers in construction, advanced manufacturing, logistics and transportation, health care, tourism, agrifood and other sectors through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and Pre-Apprenticeship programs. This brings Ontario’s total SDF investment in training projects in Belleville and the Bay of Quinte region to over $8.7 million since the launch of the fund.
“While previous governments left behind a generational labour shortage in their wake, our government is creating opportunities for young people and jobseekers to start a career in the skilled trades now, while also increasing local training capacity for the long-term,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is partnering with industry and local community organizations to train the next generation of workers with the skills they need to earn well-paying careers in construction and connect them with local employers looking to hire. Together, we are building Ontario’s bright future.”
The government is working with industry, local community organizations, and local educators to deliver free job training, pre-apprenticeship training and tailored employment services in the region. These investments include:
Ontario East Economic Development Commission: $285,400 through the SDF Training Stream to the Workforce Partners Support Project, which engages economic development offices, workforce development planners, employment services and employers to help 1,715 jobseekers acquire in-demand skills and jobs in Eastern Ontario.
Junior Achievement of Northern & Eastern Ontario: $241,280 through the SDF Training Stream for the Empowerment of Youth in the Skilled Trades program to raise awareness of the skilled trades and deliver a free in-class entrepreneurial program to 2,000 full-time high school students, including youth with disabilities.
Youth Habilitation Quinte Inc.: $363,500 to deliver pre-apprenticeship training in careers as general carpenters, which includes foundational training for carpentry skills and workplace health and safety.
The province is also increasing the number of students who can be trained locally for careers in manufacturing by approving Loyalist College to deliver a 433A Industrial Millwright program, increasing training capacity up to 30 more seats a year. Loyalist College plans to deliver part-time training which will provide participants with flexibility to stay in their current jobs while they train to develop their skills. Currently, wait times to access this program in Eastern Ontario are between 21 and 28 months, demonstrating an urgent need to increase training capacity for these careers.
“Ontario’s colleges, like Loyalist, play a vital role in training skilled workers who are ready to fill labour gaps and support our economy,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Today’s announcement demonstrates how we’re strengthening the links between Ontario’s labour market needs and the programs being offered to students so we can get even more people into rewarding careers like the skilled trades.”
With the recent announcement of up to $260 million for Round 5 of the SDF Training Stream, the province’s total investment through the Skills Development Fund is now up to $1.4 billion. These investments are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to attract, support and protect workers, making Ontario the best place to work, live and raise a family.
Quick Facts
There were 6,600 jobs recently going unfilled in the Kingston-Pembroke economic region, which includes the Belleville and Bay of Quinte region.
The Skills Development Fund comprises two streams: the Training Stream supports hiring, training, and upskilling programs for jobseekers, apprentices, and workers; and the Capital Stream supports upgrades or construction of training centres for the skilled trades.
Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF Training Stream has helped almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including:
Over 66,000 construction workers
Over 92,000 manufacturing workers
Over 36,000 PSWs and health care workers
People interested in participating in the projects announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.
SDF Training Stream Round 5 opened on July 29, 2024, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until October 4, 2024. Interested organizations can apply through Transfer Payment Ontario and send inquiries to skillsdevelopmentfund@ontario.ca.
The Skills Development Fund Training Stream and the pre-apprenticeship program are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario.
Quotes
"This investment in the Skills Development Fund and Pre-Apprenticeship programs is imperative to continue building our thriving industrial and trades sectors. Our hope is to encourage an interest in manufacturing in our youth to stay, live and work in Belleville. "
- Neil Ellis
Mayor of City of Belleville
"Loyalist College is thrilled to receive approval to deliver the classroom training component of the Industrial Mechanic Millwright Apprenticeship program. Today’s announcement reflects the college’s ongoing commitment to providing high-quality learning experiences that align with the needs of industry and support economic development in our region. This program will help address the apprenticeship needs of local manufacturers and ensure that employees no longer need to leave the area to access this specialized training."
- Mark Kirkpatri
President and CEO of Loyalist College
"At JA Northern and Eastern Ontario (JA-NEO), we are often the first point of contact with students surrounding skills in Financial Literacy, Entrepreneurship and Workforce Readiness. With funding from the Skills Development Fund, JA-NEO is continuing to be at the forefront of exposing and providing experiential learning opportunities and essential skills to youth that are needed within the skilled trades sector. By working alongside our industry partners across all Northern and Eastern Ontario we are helping to close the skilled trades gap."
- John McNutt
President & CEO of JA Northern and Eastern Ontario
"We are grateful for the funding provided by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training & Skills Development. The funding has allowed us to launch our Pre-Apprenticeship Readiness Employment Program (PREP). This program provides participants with the skills and knowledge to enter the construction industry while matching the participants with local employers."
- Ted Parker
Executive Director of Youth Habilitation Quinte Inc.
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