The Ontario government took two important steps toward strengthening the province’s apprenticeship system on October 7.

Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton announced that the province will invest an additional $75 million over the next two years to help apprentices cover their living expenses during their in-class training.

The minister also named five members to a skilled trades panel that will provide advice and recommendations on developing a new approach to training and certification in place of the disbanded Ontario College of Trades.

Sitting on the panel are Jason Ottey, director of government relations and communications for Laborers' International Union of North America Local 183; Shaun Scott, Director of Organizational Development with Linamar; Melanie Winter, Regional Human Resources Director for Western and Central Canada at Cascades; and Melissa Young, executive director of the National Electrical Trade Council. It will be chaired by Michael Sherrard of Sherrard Kuzz LLP.

"I am honoured to accept this appointment," said Sherrard. "This is an important opportunity to modernize, streamline and strengthen the skilled trades system in our province. With my colleagues on the panel, I look forward to listening to interested stakeholders and contributing to a solution that serves apprentices, journey-people and anyone who may consider a career in the skilled trades."

The $75-million apprenticeship investment includes:

• the Grant for Apprentice Learning, a $5.8-million commitment to support those who are ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI) while attending in-class training, including a boost of $1.3 million this year and next year,
• the Apprentice Development Benefit, a $24-million commitment to increase the maximum benefit rates for EI-eligible apprentices attending full-time in-class training, including a boost of $4 million this year and next year,
• the In-Class Enhancement Fund, a $211.9-million commitment to support training providers so they can deliver higher quality training, including a boost of $11.8 million this year and $22.3 million next year,
• the Apprenticeship Capital Grant, a $24-million commitment to training providers to upgrade their facilities with state-of-the-art and modern equipment, including an additional $10 million next year,
• $5.1 million for training delivery agents, and an additional $500,000 for pre-apprenticeship training service providers, to help them implement COVID-19 health and safety measures during the pandemic, and
• $2.5 million this year and $7.5 million next year to launch the new non-repayable Tools Grant.

"Demand for workers in the trades will only increase as the province continues down the path of renewal, growth and economic recovery," said McNaughton. “That's why our government is replacing lost wages for apprentices while they are in training so they can focus on completing their education and not having to worry about paying the bills. This investment will help them earn a higher quality education to ensure they acquire the skills they need to find good jobs and careers in the trades."

Meanwhile, the new Skilled Trades Panel will provide advice and recommendations to the Minister on the replacement of the Ontario College of Trades with a new approach to providing services, including compliance with compulsory training and certification requirements. The panel will also provide guidance on the criteria and process used to make decisions on the classification and training for the trades.

"We’re strong supporters of the government’s efforts to implement a new model that ensures our skilled trades and apprenticeship system is in step with the times, puts skilled workers first, and supports them in their journey of training, no matter which trade they pursue,” said Karen Renkema, chair of the Ontario Skilled Trade Alliance. “We look forward to working with the government to build a system that provides workers with the skills that employers and our economy need now, and well into the future."