VAUGHAN — The Ontario government is investing more than $6 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to support two innovative projects that will train over 1,000 carpenters in Vaughan and across Ontario. This brings Ontario’s total investment in skills development training through SDF to nearly $1.1 billion.
“Our plan to keep rebuilding Ontario’s economy starts with investing in workers so they can find better jobs with bigger paycheques right here in our province,” said Premier Doug Ford. “By helping workers train for jobs in fast-growing sectors like carpentry, we’re also ensuring employers have the workers they need to continue growing their businesses and investing in Ontario’s economy.”
With approximately 1,200 carpentry vacancies across Ontario, these projects will train over 1,000 jobseekers in highly in-demand carpentry fields facing acute labour shortages.
The first project, managed by the Carpenters’ Regional Council (CRC), is receiving over $5.5 million to train over 750 jobseekers and apprentices with a combination of on-the-job training and in-class learning, including preparing for their Certificate of Qualification Red Seal exam.
The second project, led by the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades (CCAT), is receiving $894,824 to deliver upskilling programs up to 312 jobseekers in carpentry skills related to formwork and scaffolding, which are essential in non-residential construction and which are also experiencing an acute labour shortage across Ontario.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government has an ambitious plan to build the homes, hospitals, schools and infrastructure our growing communities need. As Ontario attracts record levels of job-creating housing and infrastructure projects, we’re also investing in training opportunities to ensure our talent matches our ambition,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why our government is proud to work with our union partners to invest over $6 million in new training programs that will give more jobseekers the opportunity to build a bright future for themselves and their families in carpentry.”
Quick Facts
Through the SDF, Ontario is investing nearly $1.1 billion to support training and upskilling programs for workers and connect jobseekers with employers to land well-paying careers close to home.
Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF has helped almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including over 66,000 construction workers, over 92,000 manufacturing workers and over 36,000 PSWs and health-care workers.
More than 420,000 of these participants are expected to be from an underrepresented group such as women, youth, persons with disabilities, racialized groups and Indigenous peoples.
In 2023, there were 36,600 carpenters employed in Ontario, making it one of the largest construction trades.
For more information on the CCAT project, visit www.theccat.ca/. To apply, fill out the online application for pre-apprenticeship training.
Those interested in the CRC project can get more information by reaching out to Alexa Cleary at acleary@ubcja.ca
The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario.
Quotes
"This significant investment will help us secure the skilled workers we need to build the energy, homes and infrastructure that families in King and Vaughan deserve. We will continue to invest in growing the skilled workforce to build our province, as we work to support young people pursuing a path from apprenticeship training into good-paying jobs across our economy."
- Stephen Lecce
MPP King–Vaughan
"This investment is fantastic news for residents of Vaughan. It will help train more of the essential carpenters who help build our city and are at the forefront of the government’s ongoing mission to build more homes for Ontarians. I want to thank Premier Ford and Minister Piccini for their confidence in the talent of skilled workers in Vaughan."
- Michael Tibollo
MPP Vaughan–Woodbridge
"Thornhill's, and Ontario’s, future is bright and skilled trades workers are a vital part of that future. From homes and infrastructure to movie sets and stage production, carpenters help our province and economy grow. I am proud of our government's investment of over $6 million through the SDF to support these innovative projects that will train over 1,000 carpenters in Thornhill and across Ontario."
- Laura Smith
MPP Thornhill
"The College of Carpenters and Allied Trades is proud to continue delivering industry-leading training through the Skills Development Fund with the support of Minister Piccini and the Ontario government. SDF has been instrumental with supporting the next generation of Ontario’s skilled tradespeople, such as CCAT’s Formwork and Scaffolding Work-Ready Programs. This investment will help recruit, retain and employ the apprentices that will build the future of our province."
- Nicole Ross
Executive Director – College of Carpenters and Allied Trades
"This investment through SDF will continue to fund crucial programs that will continue to grow Ontario’s skilled trades workforce, including the Carpenters’ Union’s Job Readiness Program and Red Seal Exam Prep Program. The support these programs have garnered has led to over 500 new workers starting an apprenticeship and over 250 existing apprentices challenging their Red Seal exam with confidence. Our Union looks forward to continuing our partnership with Minister Piccini and this government to train the carpenters that will build Ontario’s critical infrastructure for years to come."
- Adam Bridgman
Director of Training – Carpenters’ Regional Council
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