Labour Minister Monte McNaughton announced the province will boost spending on the Pre-Apprenticeship Training program by $2.5 million on November 8.

The increase in funding is expected to open an additional 200 places in the program, and brings the province’s total spending on the program to $20.8 million. 

“Ontario’s economy is facing a looming problem: a shortage of workers in the trades,” said McNaughton. “We need to find additional ways to let young people and their parents know that a career in the trades is exciting, fulfilling and profitable. We have to erase the stigma and let people know that these are well-paying jobs.”

In the Greater Toronto Area, the province will fund 28 projects for over 600 people to get training in a variety of trades like automotive service technician, arborist, electrician, hairstylist, carpenter, welder, and a number of others. 

Some of these projects include:

• A new pre-apprenticeship program delivered through the Labour Education Centre and Youth Employment Services, which will provide 36 participants with the skills to become an apprentice in construction sector.

• A partnership between Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training, George Brown College, and Toronto District School Board to provide 15 Indigenous people with 8 weeks of paid work experience in the general carpenter and/or drywall, acoustic and lathing applicator trades.

The pre-apprenticeship program promotes careers in the trades for all Ontario residents, including youth at risk, new Canadians, women and Indigenous people. It is delivered by Ontario colleges, private career colleges, union and non-union training centres and other community organizations. There are over 140 skilled trades in Ontario.

“I’m proud of our 24 publicly funded colleges and the work they do to train 81 percent of apprentices in Ontario,” said Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “We’re not just building skills and capacity, we’re investing in people and their potential.”