Ontario Training New Workers for Careers in the Skilled Trades and other Sectors in Belleville

Province investing nearly $900,000 through Skills Development Fund for young jobseekers

September 13, 2024

Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development

The Ontario government is investing more than $890,000 to deliver a comprehensive suite of training programs for up to 3,775 workers and jobseekers in Belleville for in-demand careers in construction, advanced manufacturing, logistics and transportation, health care, tourism, agrifood and other sectors through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and Pre-Apprenticeship programs. This brings Ontario’s total SDF investment in training projects in Belleville and the Bay of Quinte region to over $8.7 million since the launch of the fund.

“While previous governments left behind a generational labour shortage in their wake, our government is creating opportunities for young people and jobseekers to start a career in the skilled trades now, while also increasing local training capacity for the long-term,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is partnering with industry and local community organizations to train the next generation of workers with the skills they need to earn well-paying careers in construction and connect them with local employers looking to hire. Together, we are building Ontario’s bright future.”

The government is working with industry, local community organizations, and local educators to deliver free job training, pre-apprenticeship training and tailored employment services in the region. These investments include:

  • Ontario East Economic Development Commission: $285,400 through the SDF Training Stream to the Workforce Partners Support Project, which engages economic development offices, workforce development planners, employment services and employers to help 1,715 jobseekers acquire in-demand skills and jobs in Eastern Ontario.
  • Junior Achievement of Northern & Eastern Ontario: $241,280 through the SDF Training Stream for the Empowerment of Youth in the Skilled Trades program to raise awareness of the skilled trades and deliver a free in-class entrepreneurial program to 2,000 full-time high school students, including youth with disabilities.
  • Youth Habilitation Quinte Inc.: $363,500 to deliver pre-apprenticeship training in careers as general carpenters, which includes foundational training for carpentry skills and workplace health and safety.

The province is also increasing the number of students who can be trained locally for careers in manufacturing by approving Loyalist College to deliver a 433A Industrial Millwright program, increasing training capacity up to 30 more seats a year. Loyalist College plans to deliver part-time training which will provide participants with flexibility to stay in their current jobs while they train to develop their skills. Currently, wait times to access this program in Eastern Ontario are between 21 and 28 months, demonstrating an urgent need to increase training capacity for these careers.

“Ontario’s colleges, like Loyalist, play a vital role in training skilled workers who are ready to fill labour gaps and support our economy,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities. “Today’s announcement demonstrates how we’re strengthening the links between Ontario’s labour market needs and the programs being offered to students so we can get even more people into rewarding careers like the skilled trades.”

With the recent announcement of up to $260 million for Round 5 of the SDF Training Stream, the province’s total investment through the Skills Development Fund is now up to $1.4 billion. These investments are part of the government’s ongoing efforts to attract, support and protect workers, making Ontario the best place to work, live and raise a family.

Quick Facts

  • There were 6,600 jobs recently going unfilled in the Kingston-Pembroke economic region, which includes the Belleville and Bay of Quinte region.
  • The Skills Development Fund comprises two streams: the Training Stream supports hiring, training, and upskilling programs for jobseekers, apprentices, and workers; and the Capital Stream supports upgrades or construction of training centres for the skilled trades.
  • Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF Training Stream has helped almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including:
    • Over 66,000 construction workers
    • Over 92,000 manufacturing workers
    • Over 36,000 PSWs and health care workers
  • People interested in participating in the projects announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.
  • SDF Training Stream Round 5 opened on July 29, 2024, and applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until October 4, 2024. Interested organizations can apply through Transfer Payment Ontario and send inquiries to skillsdevelopmentfund@ontario.ca.
  • The Skills Development Fund Training Stream and the pre-apprenticeship program are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario.