Ontario Allocates $260 Million to Skills Development Fund

The Ontario government is investing up to $260 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to address labor shortages and connect workers with high-paying jobs. This is the largest round of funding since the SDF Training Stream was launched in 2021, bringing the total investment to $1.4 billion.

The fifth round of the SDF Training Stream will open on July 29, 2024. It aims to recruit, train, and upskill workers for in-demand sectors such as manufacturing, construction, and technology. Organizations eligible for funding include employers, employment service providers, training providers, labor unions, community organizations, business and industry organizations, municipalities, hospitals, Indigenous Band offices, Indigenous skills and employment training agreement holders, and service system managers.

The government also announced an investment of over $7.2 million through a previous round of SDF to train nearly 3,300 workers in the Kitchener area and across Ontario. This brings the total investment in training for Kitchener area workers to over $20 million. Specific projects include:

• Canadian Tooling and Machining Association: $5,466,080 to create technical skills development opportunities for at least 3,000 high school students in manufacturing technology programs. This funding will also deliver 300 paid job placements for approximately 160 young people and create 30 new apprenticeships in the precision metalworking industry across Ontario.
• Grand Valley Construction Association: $1,086,058 to deliver free job-ready training for careers in construction such as painting, drywall, carpentry, roofing, and masonry work, as well as health and safety training. Participants will include jobseekers and people from underrepresented and vulnerable groups in Waterloo, Brant, and Wellington regions.
• Christian Labour Association of Canada: $723,688 to provide free training and paid job placements for workers in construction. The training will focus on the basics of construction and essential skills in health, safety, and wellness. Participants will include women, Indigenous people, newcomers, young people, underrepresented people, and justice-involved individuals across the province.