Government of Ontario is focused on getting more people started in the trades

Ontario is supporting more than 1,200 pre-apprentices in 67 training programs this year, to help them gain job skills and experience, and prepare them for successful careers in the skilled trades.

Deb Matthews, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development, was joined by Daiene Vernile, MPP for Kitchener Centre and Kathryn McGarry, MPP for Cambridge, at Conestoga College in Waterloo to talk about Ontario’s pre-apprenticeship investments this year. Conestoga College is receiving support from the province for two pre-apprenticeship programs for welders and heavy equipment technicians at its Waterloo and Kitchener campuses.

“Pre-apprenticeship training will help many people in the Waterloo Region develop the skills they need to find gainful employment in high demand trades. This program will also help them to connect with prospective employers who are seeking qualified candidates with job-ready skills.” said Vernile, MPP Kitchener-Centre.

Each year, Ontario colleges and other training organizations offer free local training for people interested in careers in the trades, through the province’s  Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program.

Pre-apprenticeship training helps people develop trade-specific knowledge, job skills and the work experience they need for careers in high-demand trades, such as carpentry, plumbing, or cooking.  Local programs accept a wide range of trainees, with many projects focused on groups that are under-represented in the skilled workforce, such as new Canadians, women, and Indigenous people.

Investing in a modern apprenticeship system that provides people with the skills and training they need to succeed is part of our plan to create jobs, grow our economy and help people in their everyday lives.