TORONTO — The provincial government has announced it is spending $13.2 million to provide pre-apprenticeship training to approximately 1,200 people.
According to a release issued by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, applications for funding to deliver programs are open. Those selected to provide training will be notified in January 2019 to start later that same year.
Approved programs last up to one year and often combine level one apprenticeship training with a work placement, free training, textbooks, safety equipment and tools, the release indicates.
“With one in five new jobs expected to be in trades-related occupations by 2021, we need to train more skilled workers to keep our economy strong,” said Merrilee Fullerton, minister of training, colleges and universities, in a statement. “These programs get people ready for a rich and rewarding education and career in the skilled trades, by making them ready to work as apprentices.”
The Ontario government recently introduced the proposed Making Ontario Open for Business Act to help modernize apprenticeship and reduce regulatory burden in the skilled trades, creating more opportunities for apprentices and employers, adds the release.
This is a great move by our province, 1,200 apprentices is still not enough with an average of 4,000 trades workers retiring annually. The proposed ratio change of adding more apprentices to one journeyperson still needs serious review as there are very few that will devote to taking on more apprentices and the workload.