Ontario Investing $375,000 in Apprenticeship Training in North Bay
September 19, 2023Funding will help support upgrades to training facilities and equipment at Canadore College
NORTH BAY – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing announced that the Ontario government is investing $375,000 to boost apprenticeship training at Canadore College and help more people in Nipissing get the skills to prepare for meaningful and well-paying careers in an in-demand industry. To help deliver the province’s ambitious infrastructure plans, including building 1.5 million homes by 2031, Ontario will need over 100,000 new skilled trades workers this decade.
“This investment will go towards attracting and retaining more students at Canadore College while delivering an essential curriculum on the General Machinist Apprenticeship Program,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “Our government understands that investments like these will help Ontario’s next generation of apprentices gain the skills and experiences needed to become a successful tradesperson and build Ontario for the future.”
“Canadore College is helping to address the shortage of highly skilled trades people in Ontario. The students in our trades programs graduate with the latest skills and are ready to go to work immediately. This funding support will help us to train machinists on the latest CNC equipment. This investment is another step helping to address the skills shortage gap. We thank the Government of Ontario for its continued support.” – George Burton, President, and CEO of Canadore College.
The investment will help people be trained for a rewarding career as machinists. Canadore College has collaborated with its Program Advisory Committee (PAC) to develop strategies that meet industry standards. This proposal seeks funding for new Computer Numerical Control (CNC) equipment, which is critical to building upon existing shop equipment while bridging to other equipment acquisitions in Canadore’s Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping.
Funding is part of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s $24 million investment in the Apprenticeship Capital Grant program, which helps improve and modernize equipment and training facilities that support hands-on learning for students and apprentices.
To tackle the ongoing labour shortage, Ontario is investing over $1 billion in the skilled trades over three years. This investment is part of the government’s mission to make Ontario the best place in the world to live, work, and raise a family.
In the spring, the government announced a historic 24 per cent increase in apprenticeship registrations – nearly 30 per cent among women – bringing the province to more than 91,000 active apprentices in total.
Quick Facts
- In 2023-24, 63 ministry-approved Training Delivery Agents across the province are being funded by the Apprenticeship Capital Grant program.
- By 2026, one in five job openings in Ontario are projected to be in the skilled trades.
- 1.3 million people are working in skilled trades-related occupations in Ontario.
- There are 144 skilled trades in Ontario.
- At least one in three workers with an apprenticeship or trades certificate is aged 55 years or over and nearing retirement.
- The Apprenticeship Capital Grant is supported by labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
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