The Ontario government has announced an investment of more than $13 million through its Skills Development Fund (SDF) to help more than 1,000 workers and jobseekers in Sudbury train for jobs in boilermaking, welding, mining and ironworking sectors.

Labour Minister David Piccini was joined by members of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 128 in Sudbury, which is receiving $5,735,262 through the Skills Development Fund Training and Capital Streams to purchase new equipment for their Burlington-based training centre and build a new training facility in Sudbury.

The upgrades will double the union’s capacity to help more than 660 new apprentices and journeypersons train for jobs in the energy and construction sectors. Workers will receive several safety certifications, with training focused on telehandlers and elevated work platforms, to help them prepare for better jobs with bigger paycheques.

“As we face global economic uncertainty, we’re doubling down on local training projects that give Northern workers the skills they need to seize new opportunities at home,” Piccini said.

Last week’s announcement sees the government invest in four other organizations:

• Agnico Eagle Mines Limited is receiving $5,000,000 to deliver on-the-job training and employment for participants in critical mining occupations across Northern Ontario.
• UBC Millwrights Local 1425 is receiving $1,070,321 to expand mobile welding training for participants in Sudbury, Timmins and Sault Ste. Marie.
• Ironworkers Local 786 is receiving $890,587 to upgrade training equipment and expand programming for ironworkers in Sudbury.
• Northern Centre for Advanced Technology Inc. is receiving $580,000 to develop and deploy virtual reality training modules for mining, construction, and forestry workers.

"Millwright Local 1425 has a very large geographical area,” said business representative Ada Buttazzoni. “Having a new mobile welding training unit will allow more accessibility for training and more exposure to help fulfill the strong demand for new apprentices to join the building trades. This wouldn’t be possible without the opportunities made available through the SDF funding."

Since its launch in 2021, through the SDF Training Stream and Capital Stream, Ontario has invested $1.5 billion to help train more than one million workers for in-demand careers and good-paying job in sectors like the skilled trades.