Ontario is helping train skilled workers for green jobs in the building sector

Ontario is helping workers thrive in the low-carbon economy with new support for apprentices, skilled trades, and other professionals from the building sector to develop green building skills. This initiative is part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan and is funded by proceeds from the province’s carbon market.

“Buildings and homes are a significant source of greenhouse gas pollution. Helping workers in the buildings sector develop green skills means that our workforce will be better prepared for the jobs of tomorrow and position us to win the critical fight against climate change,” said Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development at the LiUNA Local 1059 Regional Training Centre in London.

Ontario is helping unions, colleges and universities acquire new equipment and increase their capacity to train current and future workers in low-carbon building skills, including through:

• Sector-focused partnerships between unions, employers and others to support training programs in green building skills.
• New and upgraded facilities and more capacity to support green building skills training.
• New green training curriculum standards for apprentices.
• Research into green labour force needs.

This initiative is funded by proceeds from Ontario’s carbon market, which are invested into programs that help households and businesses fight climate change while saving energy and money, including home energy retrofits, public transit, social housing retrofits, and electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure.

Ensuring that Ontario’s skilled workers are prepared for the low-carbon economy is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.