The Ontario government has announced an investment of more than $4 million to upgrade the SMART Local 47 training centre in Ottawa.

The expansion will enable the sheet-metal workers’ union to expand its training curriculum to include French-language materials, enabling them to train more than 500 additional workers over the next five years. The centre will become the first in Ontario to offer training in French to sheet metal workers.

Funding is being provided through the province’s Skills Development Fund.

“We’re partnering with SMART 47 to expand and enhance their training facility here in Ottawa to train the next generation of workers who will leverage the wisdom of experienced tradespeople to build Ontario's bright future,” said Labour Minister David Piccini. “This includes providing Ontario’s first French-language training program for sheet metal working to enable more Francophone Ontarians to receive training in their native tongue – because a career in the skilled trades is for everyone.”

The SDF funding is being provided via two streams. SMART Local 47 will receive just over $4 million via the fund’s capital stream for expansions to its training centre. This training centre expansion will allow for curriculum growth and will foster additional collaboration opportunities within the industry, including internships, apprenticeships, and job placements.

Meanwhile, the union will receive a further $54,000 through the SDF training stream to translate and implement a French-language curriculum for apprenticeship and safety training programs.

"The expansion of SMART 47’s training centre and the introduction of Ontario’s first French sheet metal working curriculum come at a crucial time for our city,” said Ottawa Mayor - Mark Sutcliffe. “This investment will help train our next generation to carry on critical work in an industry that has seen a big increase in retirements. Skilled trades are vital to our city’s growth, and this investment by the Provincial government strengthens Ottawa’s future by setting up a skilled workforce ready to help build Ottawa."

The province estimates that Ontario will need more than 500,000 additional workers in skilled trades-related occupations over the next 10 years.

Since its launch in 2021, the SDF Training Stream has supported projects that help almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including more than 66,000 construction workers.