ETOBICOKE — Premier Doug Ford visited the Ontario Electrical League’s headquarters last week to learn how provincial funding is enhancing training for workers in the electrical industry.
Through Ontario’s Skills Development Fund (SDF), the government is investing $260 million in its sixth round of the Training Stream, supporting innovative projects in manufacturing, health care, construction, automotive, and other skilled trades. This funding aims to help employers hire, train, and upskill workers, while maintaining Ontario’s competitiveness amid global economic uncertainty.
The Ontario Electrical League will receive nearly $3 million to support 500 journeypersons, apprentices, and residents of rural and remote communities with financial aid, training, and outreach programs to address labour shortages in the electrical sector. Applications for this round of funding are open until October 1, 2025.
In addition to the Ontario Electrical League, other organizations receiving funding include:
- Support Ontario Youth: $3,750,000 to assist 1,325 jobseekers, high school graduates, and apprentices across 15 skilled trades through tailored education, hands-on training, mentorship, and employer matching.
- Finishing Trades Institute of Ontario: $3,776,668 to train 120 participants for painting and glazing trades across Toronto, Ottawa, and Ancaster through job readiness training and 12-week placements. Additionally, 800 members of the trade will receive critical upskilling.
- Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters: $1,434,786 to train and upskill 500 individuals, including women, youth, and newcomers, for careers in manufacturing.
Since its 2021 launch, the SDF has funded over 1,000 training projects connecting more than 700,000 people with better-paying jobs across Ontario.
