The province announced more than $900,000 in investments in four London-based pre-apprenticeship programs on January 24.

Two of the four programs will help to train construction workers. Those programs combined received nearly $700,000.

The government estimates the four programs will prepare more than 100 people for jobs in the skilled trades.

"In London and throughout the province, there are thousands of jobs that go unfilled," said Labour, Training and Skills Development Minister, Monte McNaughton at an event at the LiUNA Local 1059 Regional Training Centre. "Those are paycheques waiting to be collected. But the workers aren't there. My mission is to bridge that skills gap in London and throughout the province. Today's announcement is the next step."

The four programs being funded under the announcement are:

• $144,000 to help the Brick and Allied Craft Union of Canada Local 5 offer 12 participants trades training for valuable careers as brick and stone masons and construction craft workers,
• $549,580 to support LiUNA Local 1059 in offering a combination of classroom training and work placements to help prepare 72 participants for jobs in the construction craft worker and cement finisher trades,
• $131,135 to help Collège Boréal provide training for 11 people in the London area and help them explore career opportunities as child development practitioners and education assistants in schools and daycares, and
• $99,888 to help the London Training Centre provide 12 participants with Smart Serve training, trade-readiness training and work placements to prepare them for jobs as cooks, bakers and chefs.

“We are really pleased to see this support from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development,” said Brandon MacKinnon, Business Manager of LiUNA Local 1059. “Local 1059 relies on our successful pre-apprenticeship program as a vital recruitment tool, and with the skilled trades shortage in our region, our ability to recruit talent through the program is more important than ever. We appreciate the Minister’s partnership and his ongoing commitment to help support, fund, and destigmatize the skilled trades. These workers build our roads, bridges, and other essential infrastructure – and it’s great that the ministry is acknowledging the importance of the trades as a first-choice career.”

Pre-apprenticeship training promotes careers in the trades as an option for all Ontario residents—including youth at risk, new Canadians, women and Indigenous people. The training programs are free, last up to one year and often combine classroom training with work placements of up to 12 weeks.

"Careers in the skilled trades have been stigmatized for far too long — especially for women," said Jill Dunlop, Associate Minister for Children and Women's Issues. "Only four percent of those in the skilled trades are women. This funding will help us do better, and open up the skilled trades to a broader range of people."  

The government recently announced a $20.8-million investment into pre-apprenticeship programs for 2019–20 to create training opportunities for more than 1,800 people across Ontario. The funding is an increase of $5 million from the previous year. Training is delivered by Ontario colleges, private career colleges, union and non-union training centres and other community organizations.

"Ontario is facing a looming problem," said McNaughton. "Our skilled tradespeople are retiring faster than we can replace them. We need to let young people and their parents know that careers in the trades are a viable first choice. They're exciting, fulfilling and often very lucrative."

"By investing in pre-apprenticeship training, we tap additional talent pools and give more people a chance to prepare for well-paying careers in the trades," he added.