Ontario Investing $1.4 Million to Train Construction Workers in Niagara
November 22, 2024
Welland – The Ontario government has invested $1,397,179 through the Training Stream of the Skills Development Fund in a construction skills program to train workers in Niagara for in-demand careers in the homebuilding sector. The province is supporting the training program, administered by the Niagara Home Builders’ Association in partnership with Niagara College. This latest round of funding brings Ontario’s total investment through the Skills Development Fund to up to $1.4 billion.
“As Niagara continues to grow, our region requires more skilled workers in the construction and homebuilding sectors,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
“This investment through the Skills Development Fund for the Niagara Home Builders’ Association and Niagara College is already providing opportunities for good jobs and careers with bigger paycheques for local workers as we build more homes faster.”
“Under Premier Ford, our government has an ambitious plan to build Ontario – from new housing that families can call home, to highways and public transit connecting our communities, and clean energy projects powering our economy,” said Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
“That is why we are partnering with local employers, unions and educators to pass on the expertise and wisdom of the golden generation of skilled tradespeople to the next generation of students, apprentices and workers who will build Ontario’s bright future.”
In partnership with the Niagara Home Builders’ Association and Niagara College, the Ontario government has invested $1,397,179 in the Construction Skills Program – focused on framing construction and drywall installation and finishing – at the Welland Campus of Niagara College.
Through the Skills Development Fund, the government is investing up to $1.4 billion through Skills Development Fund’s Training Stream and the Capital Stream which are designed to recruit, train and upskill workers and build or upgrade training centres for the skilled trades.
“This program is allowing the Niagara Home Builders’ Association and Niagara College to continue to develop and train students with the skills they need in order to be job site ready to work their way into building a stable career, while filling the void of the 100,000 workers our industry needs over the next decade,” said Chuck McShane, CEO of the Niagara Home Builders’ Association.
“Ontario is projected to build 1.5 million homes in the next ten years, and in order to stabilize our housing crisis we simply need more individuals working in the trades.”
“Niagara College is grateful to the province for, once again, investing in training that is helping to address the urgent need for skilled tradespeople,” said Fiona Allan, Academic Vice-President at Niagara College.
“This funding underscores the important work we do, alongside industry and our partners at the Niagara Home Builders’ Association, to meet the current and future needs of employers and our communities.”
Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s Skills Development Fund has helped connect approximately 600,000 workers train or upskill for careers in the trades in their local communities, including over 92,000 manufacturing workers, over 66,000 construction workers, over 36,000 Personal Support Workers and healthcare workers, and over 27,000 mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction workers.
As well as record investments in skills development, the province is returning over $2.5 billion to workers and businesses through fee reductions and Workplace Safety and Insurance Board rebates.