As part of its overhaul of the provincial apprenticeship system, the Government of Ontario has appointed two training and skills advisors.

Adam Melnick and Andrew Pariser have been appointed for a period of two years. They will lead consultations with industry and stakeholders and provide recommendations to Ross Romano, the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, to modernize the skilled trades and apprenticeship system. Romano made the announcement on September 23.

The facility will create more than 600 full-time jobs in the Greater Toronto Area

Amazon announced last month that it plans to build a new fulfillment centre in Scarborough. The one-million square foot facility will create more than 600 full-time jobs with comprehensive benefits. This will be Amazon’s twelfth fulfillment centre in Canada, and seventh in Ontario, alongside existing Ontario operations facilities in Brampton, Mississauga, Milton, Caledon and Ottawa. Amazon currently employs more than 4,000 full-time associates in Ontario, and an additional 1,000 employees at its two Toronto tech hub locations.

latest outlook report from the Conference Board of Canada shows slow growth—of just 1.6 percent in 2019 and 1.7 percent in 2020—for Ontario, as public-sector growth slows and investment fluctuates.

The Ministry of Labour has announced a series of workplace safety blitzes aimed at all sectors—and in particular at workers in the construction sector.

Beginning October 1, and through December 27, inspectors will conduct focused inspections for practices that could lead to musculoskeletal disorders and respiratory hazards. Construction will be one sector particularly targeted for these site visits.

The provincial government opened a new forum for discussions with the construction industry on September 26.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton announced the creation of a construction advisory panel. The group of between 8 and 12 experts from labour and industry will meet with the minister three times annually to provide input and advice on a range of workplace issues, including labour and employment law, the rise of new equipment and technologies, workplace health and safety, and injury prevention.