Ontario Construction News staff writer
Ontario has announced the sixth round of its Skills Development Fund Training Stream, investing nearly $8 million in three training projects and one capital project. And it says it will apply more rigorous accountability following a critical report from the province’s auditor general.
The new projects will be delivered through a strengthened program that the province said aligns with recommendations from the AG’s 2025 review, which found that $750 million in Skills Development Fund grants were “not fair, transparent or accountable.”
These enhancements include:
- Tracking longer-term employment outcomes at three, six and 12 months to better measure success and improve program monitoring.
- Increasing transparency by requiring applications to disclose the use of registered lobbyists and consultants, with information verified against Ontario’s Lobbyists Registry.
- New tools for risk management and due diligence, including analyzing individuals associated with applications, in addition to the organization.
The latest round of spending aims to help more than 7,300 people in northern Ontario access training for jobs in sectors including mining and the skilled trades.
“This investment is about building a stronger workforce today, while ensuring Ontario has the talent to deliver the major infrastructure and economic growth projects of tomorrow,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Community Builders Construction, a not-for-profit construction-based social enterprise in northern and central Ontario, is receiving $1,953,690 through the sixth round to help 189 individuals prepare for careers in the skilled trades.
Ontario is also partnering with two other organizations to deliver training across the north:
- Niiwin Wendaanimok LP is receiving $1,951,000 to train 100 Indigenous participants from four Treaty #3 communities. Participants will receive technical training in construction on Highway 17, along with financial literacy, leadership development and job readiness supports.
- Wahkohtowin is receiving $703,234 to provide 60 participants from across northern Ontario with Indigenous-led, employer-aligned jobs and retention training, mentorship and industry connections to build careers in environmental monitoring.
Through the Skills Development Fund Capital Stream, the government is also investing in long-term training infrastructure in the region by providing $3,270,899 to Science North to establish a new Sudbury training centre at its Dynamic Earth site. The new centre will help train 7,000 individuals annually in mining, construction and other sectors for a total of 35,000 new trainees over five years.
