Ontario Facilitates Veterans' Transition to Skilled Trades

The Ontario government has announced measures to facilitate the transition of Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, their spouses, and veterans into skilled trades. This initiative includes a $2.4 million investment through the Skills Development Fund to offer free training in technology and cybersecurity careers. The government aims to recognize military skills and experience by aligning certain military trades with their civilian equivalents, allowing veterans to start civilian careers more easily.

The proposed changes are part of the Honouring Veterans Act, 2024, which seeks to formally acknowledge military trades and reduce the time and cost for veterans to complete degrees or diplomas through Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) processes at publicly-assisted colleges and universities. This initiative is expected to help veterans secure course credits based on their military training and work experience.

Additionally, the province is investing in programs like Coding for Veterans, which will receive over $1.9 million to provide free online training in software development and cybersecurity. The Roland Gossage Foundation will receive over $491,000 for the Soldiers in Tech Project, aimed at training veterans and their spouses for tech careers.

The government is also exploring partnerships to support CAF members and veterans transitioning to civilian life, including potential collaborations with Seamless Canada. These efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance community and financial support for veterans and military families during Remembrance Week.