Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is spending $5 million to help people in the Ottawa-Renfrew and Peterborough-Haliburton regions prepare for careers in Ontario’s forestry sector.
Algonquin College, through the Forestry and Wood Product Manufacturing/Producing program, is leading a new skills training project in close cooperation with local employers to upskill local workers and jobseekers.
“Training programs are essential to our mission of helping people find good jobs,” said Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, training and skills development.
“With the right training, laid-off workers can get the hand up they need into life-long careers. Supporting innovative training projects in communities across the province is part of our plan to help people develop the in-demand skills they need both now and in the future.”
The SkillsAdvance Ontario project will help 150 jobseekers and 300 employed workers gain the skills and work experience they need to find jobs or advance their careers in wood product manufacturing and producing in Eastern Ontario.
This will include training in areas like mill and manufacturing operations, field skills and heavy equipment training. Algonquin and Fleming Colleges will form a consortium to develop further partnerships in the initial phase to ensure broad industry reach and strong stakeholder engagement.
“This project is good news for people and businesses in the Ottawa-Renfrew and Peterborough-Haliburton areas and for the forestry sector,” said MP John Yakabuski, minister of natural resources and forestry. “This funding helps employers to train the skilled workers they need for their business and create job opportunities for people from the region. Everybody wins.”