The provincial and federal governments have announced a $7.2-million investment aimed at helping protect workers in Northern Ontario from global economic uncertainty, allowing more than 500 people to upgrade skills, transition into in-demand careers and ensure local employers have the skilled workforce they need.
The investment made through the Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response will see funding distributed to four separate streams, several government agencies said Monday in a joint press release.
“Ontario’s greatest competitive advantage is our world-class workforce,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
“Protecting Ontario means making sure workers have the skills to succeed no matter what comes our way. Through these investments, we’re helping workers transition into good-paying careers, supporting employers facing economic pressures and strengthening the industries that will drive Ontario’s future prosperity.”
A total of $2,780,400 will go to Confederation College of Applied Arts & Technology to help 110 tariff-impacted forestry and pulp and paper sector workers affected by restructuring in Thunder Bay.
“Job loss and financial uncertainty can have a significant impact on workers, their families and our community,” Confederation College President Michelle Salo said in the release.
“Confederation College is grateful to the Ontario government for this investment, which will help affected workers and jobseekers build practical, in-demand skills and prepare for new employment opportunities across northwestern Ontario.”
Participants will receive training in heavy equipment operation, millwrighting, welding, electrical work and commercial driving, equipping them with the skills needed to fill local labour market needs.
Washagamis Bay Investment Corp. will get $1,395,150 to train 40 jobseekers, primarily Indigenous participants from the Treaty #3 region, for careers in housing construction, forestry and telecommunications infrastructure in the Kenora area, helping address local workforce needs while creating pathways to rewarding, long-term employment.
“This funding provides First Nations workforces with clear pathways to meaningful careers and supplies in-demand sectors across northwestern Ontario with the skilled labour needed,” said Greg Rickford, Ontario’s minister of Indigenous Affairs and First Nations Economic Reconciliation.
“Working alongside First Nations partners, we are investing in the skills and training opportunities that create sustained economic growth and long-term employment, now and well into the future.”
Algoma Steel Inc. will receive $1,486,153 to help upskill 250 of its employees, providing technical and skills training that will strengthen their capabilities as the company’s operations evolve.
Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition (CSTEC) will receive $1,550,992 to help 120 manufacturing workers build skills for careers in the trades such as welding and industrial mechanics.
The funding will be delivered through Skills Advance Ontario, which partners with employers and training providers to help workers transition into the sectors that are driving economic growth and building the province’s long-term competitiveness.
The agency is funded through the Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response, a $228.8-million investment intended to expand training and employment supports for those impacted by tariffs and global trade disruptions.
“This is a direct investment in the hardworking people of northern Ontario,” said Patty Hajdu, federal Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario.
“As tariffs and global economic pressures continue to affect workers and communities, no one will be left behind. By equipping more than 500 workers with the skills they need for high-demand careers, we are building stronger, more resilient communities across northern Ontario, ready to meet the challenges ahead.”
