Workers can earn bigger paycheques building historic projects across southwestern Ontario
SARNIA — The Ontario government is investing over $364,000 to help 100 journeypersons and apprentices in Sarnia and southwestern Ontario upgrade their skills in millwrighting so they can earn bigger paycheques for themselves and their families. Led by Millwright Local 1592, the funding will also help businesses find the skilled workers they need to build and maintain the hospitals, schools, automotive plants, and other historic infrastructure investments coming to the region.
“When you have a career in the skilled trades, you have a career for life,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Working with our union partners, our government is proud to invest in innovative training programs to ensure hard-working men and women have the skills they need to land better jobs and help build our province.”
Participants will be trained and certified on four pieces of equipment including boom lifts and elevating work platforms, forklifts, telehandlers, and scissor lifts. They will also get help with technical skilling and employment support so they can progress in their careers and meet the needs of local employers. “This is another important investment by our government in the future of Sarnia-Lambton and the highly skilled workforce in our community,” said Bob Bailey, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton. “This investment will help more workers in Sarnia-Lambton launch good-paying, in-demand careers in the skilled trades.”
The investment will also help increase training opportunities at Local 1592 in Sarnia for decades to come and allow them to incorporate new, state-of-the-art equipment into their training curriculum.
“Local 1592 and its members will benefit from the Skills Development Fund Project which will allow us to expand our training opportunities at UBC Millwright Local 1592’s Training Centre in Sarnia,” said Steve Laur, Business Manager at Millwright Local 1592. “Minister McNaughton continues to demonstrate and support the importance of the Skilled Trades in Ontario. He understands the direct benefit of skills training and the employability of our members in building our great province.”
The project is funded through the government’s Skills Development Fund, an over $700 million initiative, which supports ground-breaking programs that connect jobseekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying careers close to home.
“Ontario is a place where hard work pays off and big dreams come true,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “As we continue to combat the largest labour shortage in a generation, there are tens of thousands of people who need a hand up, including those previously involved in the justice system who have paid their dues and just want to give back. I believe in second chances and that is why I am calling on Ontario’s employers to help us deliver programs that lift people up and give them the tools they need to earn bigger paycheques and lead purpose-driven lives.”