$550,000 in Free Pre-apprenticeship Training in North Bay
August 18, 2023Funding will help train 24 people for in-demand jobs in the skilled trades and address the labour shortage
NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is working for workers by investing $550,000 to boost pre-apprenticeship training and help more people in Nipissing get trained for meaningful and well-paying careers in an in-demand industry. This funding is part of the government’s record investment in nearly 100 free pre-apprenticeship programs around the province to promote careers in the skilled trades to young people and help tackle the province’s historic labour shortage.
“Ontario’s skilled trades are vital to the growth of the economy and our government’s Plan to Build, offering careers that lead to secure jobs and a good quality of life,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “By 2026, one in five job openings in Ontario are projected to be in the skilled trades. These are rewarding, well-paying careers that people can build a family and a life around, here in Nipissing.”
Led by Canadore College this project will provide 24 people who are interested in working in the trades gain the skills and experience they need to get a job. The funding breakdown is as follows:
- $300,000 to support 12 people in general carpentry.
- $250,000 to support 12 people in electrician, construction, and maintenance.
“Highly skilled trades people are needed now in Ontario. Students in Canadore’s trades programs graduate with the latest skills and are job ready on day one. The trades provide stimulating and rewarding careers that pay very well. We thank the Government of Ontario for its continued support for these programs.” George Burton, President and CEO of Canadore College.
To help increase participation in the skilled trades, the government has recently made changes including making it easier for high school students to explore these careers, requiring women’s-only washrooms on constructions sites, announcing a $224 million investment in building and upgrading training centres.
This funding announced is part of the government’s nearly $1.5 billion-dollar investment in the Skilled Trades Strategy, from 2021-22 to 2023-24. These initiatives build on the government’s ongoing efforts to attract, support, and protect workers, making Ontario the best place in the world to work, live and raise a family.
Quick Facts
- In Q1 2023, there were over 300,000 unfilled jobs in Ontario, many of which are in the skilled trades.
- There are over 140 skilled trades in Ontario.
- Ontario’s construction industry will need to hire almost 100,000 additional workers due to retirements and job growth by 2026.
Additional Resources
- Apprenticeship in Ontario
- Trade Up to a Career in the Skilled Trades
- Skilled Trades Ontario: A New Agency to Better Serve Tradespeople