Province invests in trades training in North Bay
The Ontario government announce an investment of $600,000 in programming at North Bay’s Canadore College on February 3.
The money will be used to train 63 workers for careers in such fields as machine operators, general carpenters and electricians.
"In North Bay and throughout the Northeast Ontario Economic Region, more than 7,700 jobs go unfilled every day," said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. "Those are paycheques waiting to be collected. But the workers aren't there. My mission is to fix this problem, in part by providing funding for more people to prepare for these exciting, fulfilling careers. Today's announcement is a good next step."
The funding will support:
- 16 pre-apprenticeship trainees for general carpenter and electrical trades at Canadore College,
- 17 machine operator trainees for the local manufacturing sector through an Ontario SkillsAdvance Partnership between Canadore College, Yes Employment Services Inc. and eight local employers, and
- 30 personal support workers for the local health-care sector through an Ontario SkillsAdvance Partnership between Canadore College, District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and local employers.
“Skills Advance Ontario is a powerful initiative that brings government, education, service providers and employers together to address skills gaps that exist at a local level,” said LeeAnne Maille, CEO of Yes Employment Services. “Yes Employment Services is proud to partner with Canadore College to offer the machine operator program. This program will meet the needs of our local manufacturing sector while providing individuals with skills needed to access long-term, sustainable employment in an in-demand sector.”
The announcement comes as part of the province’s campaign to highlight the skilled trades as a viable career path for Ontarians. Part of that effort includes a series of ad placements that feature the slogan “Find a Career You Wouldn't Trade,” and that are running online, in movie theatres and on Tim Hortons TV.
In addition, the province has committed to investing nearly $21 million into its Pre-Apprenticeship Program this year, an increase of $5 million from the previous year, to help introduce and provide free pre-trades training to over 1,800 people.
The government also recently announced $12.7 million in funding for the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, aimed at encouraging more high school students to consider the skilled trades as a viable career.
"Careers in the trades are exciting, fulfilling and often very lucrative," said Vic Fedeli, Nipissing MPP and Minister for Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. "We need to let young people know they are a viable first career choice. This is especially crucial as Ontario faces the looming problem of our existing skilled tradespeople retiring faster than we can replace them."