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Ontario invests $13.2M into pre-apprenticeship training for skilled trades

November 8, 2018 – The Ontario government is investing $13.2 million into its pre-apprenticeship training program for future skilled trades workers.

Each year, Ontario colleges and other community partners offer local training for people considering careers in the trades through the program. Pre-apprenticeship training helps people develop the trade-specific knowledge, job skills and work experience they need to get jobs in the trades. Local programs offer opportunities for training and experience, and promote careers.

The investment will help to train approximately 1,200 people, including high school students, recent grads and unemployed workers, with special focus on Indigenous workers, newcomers to Canada, women, Francophones or youth-at-risk.

Businesses and educational institutions with training programs can apply for a portion of the funding until November 23 here. Programs selected to provide training will be notified in January 2019 for projects to start in 2019. Approved programs last up to one year, and often combine level one apprenticeship training with a work placement, free training, textbooks, safety equipment and tools. Work placements last eight to 12 weeks.

“With one in five new jobs expected to be in trades-related occupations by 2021, we need to train more skilled workers to keep our economy strong,” says Merrilee Fullerton, minister of training, colleges and universities. “These programs get people ready for a rich and rewarding education and career in the skilled trades, by making them ready to work as apprentices.”