The province is working to get more people involved in the skilled trades in Ontario with a focus on Indigenous residents
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says $350,000 is being put into a mentorship and training program for up to 60 people in Lambton County.
“This program is focused on helping local Indigenous communities find dignifying careers in the trades, and remove a major barrier that can prevent people from accessing training, LiUNA will be providing free transportation to all participants.”
The program, led by LiUNA Local 1089 Training Centre, will offer 12 weeks of training, introducing participants often underrepresented in skilled trades to construction safety, material handling, introduction to blueprints and specifications, introduction to construction tools, and scaffolding.
“Now, more than ever, these in-demand jobs can provide a stable, well-paying career path, particularly for those who have been hit hard by job losses in the last year,” McNaughton says. “This investment will help ensure anyone can access opportunities in the trades.”
The project will also prepare 12 current tradespeople to deliver training support to those who are new to the trades through a train-the-trainer program that includes shadowing ongoing courses including pipe laying and construction craft work. This will give them the chance to expand their knowledge while teaching them how to pass on their experience to future journeypersons.