Ontario invests $690K to train manufacturing workers and apprentices

The Ontario government is investing nearly $690,000 to train 260 manufacturing workers and apprentices on how to improve productivity and job safety.

The program is being led by the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME).

Courses will be offered in person or virtually, and available to employees in any manufacturing company in the province at no cost.

The program aims to connect manufacturing businesses across the province to create peer-to-peer mentorship opportunities through work councils and networking groups, so that manufacturing organizations can share knowledge, identify challenges facing the industry and generate solutions.

“Skills deficits and lack of training funding are Ontario manufacturers’ biggest challenges,” says Mathew Wilson, senior vice-president of government relations and policy at the CME, in a statement.

“This partnership between the government of Ontario and CME will go a long way to alleviating one of manufacturing’s biggest problems.”

The funding comes as part of the government’s $115-million Skills Development Fund. More than 500 applications were received in the first month for this new fund, and a second application round is being planned for later in 2021.

The government says it is working to process all applications for the first round of funding and discuss proposals with applicants.

“The pandemic has shown us the importance of adapting quickly to meet unexpected challenges,” says Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, training and skills development.

“Workers on our assembly lines have demonstrated resiliency and kept factories running so that families can continue to get food for their kids, furniture for their homes and other necessary items. This investment will help these vital workers gain the skills they need so they can confidently face new challenges.”

The first round of training will begin in early summer. Companies interested can get more information and apply by contacting John.Rodic@cme-mec.ca.

Ontario’s manufacturing industry accounted for 11 per cent ($78 billion) of Ontario’s real gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.

Approximately 11 per cent of Ontario workers were employed in the manufacturing sector in 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2020, there were about 17,700 vacancies in Ontario’s manufacturing sector.