{"id":21177,"date":"2023-08-25T15:44:55","date_gmt":"2023-08-25T22:44:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/ontario-adds-160-million-to-skills-training-funding\/"},"modified":"2023-08-25T15:44:56","modified_gmt":"2023-08-25T22:44:56","slug":"ontario-adds-160-million-to-skills-training-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essential.construction\/news\/ontario-adds-160-million-to-skills-training-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Ontario adds $160 million to skills training funding"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Aug. 25, 2023 \u2013 Ontario is set to put $160 million toward skills training programs, prioritizing help for people on social assistance and people with criminal records.<\/p>\n

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton is set to announce the fourth round of funding through the Skills Development Fund today.<\/p>\n

He says it\u2019s aimed at giving at least 100,000 people free training in health care, auto manufacturing, IT, hospitality and skilled\u00a0trades.<\/p>\n

The announcement brings the total for Skills Development Fund training to more than $860 million, with 596 projects in a variety of sectors supported so far.<\/p>\n

McNaughton says one million people in Ontario have a criminal record, with the majority for non-violent and petty crimes, and half of them are on social assistance even 15 years after being released.<\/p>\n

He says around 40 per cent of people with a criminal record can\u2019t get a second interview when job hunting, so he is calling on organizations to submit proposals to help them find meaningful work while also addressing labour shortages.<\/p>\n

Funding applications are due by Nov. 17.<\/p>\n

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2023.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n