Province to introduce legislation to attract skilled workers
The provincial government intends to introduce legislation that will reduce the amount of time for skilled workers from other parts of the country to have their credentials transferred to Ontario.
Premier Doug Ford announced the plan on February 25.
If passed, the legislation would help workers in over 30 in-demand professions—including engineers, auto mechanics and plumbers—come to work in the province within a service standard of 30 business days.
“It’s never been more important that we attract more workers to fill in-demand jobs,” said Ford. “This move opens more doors for workers to call Ontario home while contributing to our plan to build more roads, bridges, highways, homes and public transit.”
Unfilled jobs cost the province billions in lost productivity. Between July and September of 2021, the province reports there were 338,835 vacant jobs across Ontario, including many in the skilled trades.
Data suggests that the need to replace retiring workers is elevated in the skilled trades. In 2016, nearly one in three journeypersons in Ontario was aged 55 years or older.
The government is also proposing to recognize three fuel-related professions—gas fitter class A, gas fitter class B, and oil and heat systems technician—under the province’s skilled trades legislation, meaning Ontario will officially recognize all 55 Red Seal Trades.
The full list of Red Seal trades, some of which will benefit from the 30-business-day registration period, includes construction electricians, tool and die makers and others.
There are 144 trades currently prescribed under skilled trades legislation in Ontario.
Further to these measures, the province is also working towards making it easier for workers who have completed fall protection training in another province to come to work in Ontario. This would include allowing them to start to work immediately after completing a refresher course from an accredited Ontario provider.