The province is working to get more young people involved in the skilled trades.
Labour Minister and MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex Monte McNaughton announced this morning nearly $4-million to help as many as 2100 young people access training and networking opportunities.
“These boot camps will help students learn how to become electricians, plumbers, millwrights, automotive service technicians, and horticulture technicians,” McNaughton says. “These young people will gain supervised hands-on experience working with tools, and get to network with local employers.”
The Tools in the Trades boot camps will be offered free of charge, aimed at grade 12 students, those who lost their jobs during the pandemic, and those who are looking to start a new career with a special focus on Indigenous youth, racialized groups, women and newcomers.
Statistics show there are more than 220,000 vacant jobs in Ontario right now, many of which are in the trades. In construction alone, McNaughton says more than 100,000 skilled workers will be needed over the next decade.
Stephen Sell, Executive Director of Support Youth Ontario, says the book camps will run September 2021 to March 2022.
“It is not only important but significant that the money from the government is already working to help grow the number of apprentices in the trades in Ontario,” Sell says. “My team, led by Kevin Graham, has organized in excess of 60 boot camp events that we believe, and the numbers bear out, that we will see an additional 140 apprentices working in their trade.”
Students and adults interested in attending a boot camp can apply on the Safe Ontario Youth website at https://www.supportontarioyouth.ca/
