Toronto, Ontario — With all Ontarian eyes fixated on huge investments into the province’s auto sector as of late, the Ford government announced Wednesday that a round of funding totalling more than $4.7 million is on the way to create the jobs to match industry growth.
The announcement was made in London, Ont. alongside representatives from the Automotive Parts Manufacturers Association (APMA) and the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA), where two large-scale training projects were outlined.
The project headed up by AIA Canada aims to equip 160 individuals with the skills to transition their careers into the electric vehicle (EV) sector, in the aim of bolstering recent investments into such technologies in Ontario.
Specific details of what the training will cover has not yet been disclosed, however, the government did confirm that Conestoga College (Guelph Campus), Fanshawe College (London Campus) and St. Lawrence College (Cornwall Campus) will be partnering to offer the courses.
“Getting our workers the skills they need and more people into the automotive trades is essential,” said AIA Canada president Jean-François Champagne.
“Automotive tradespeople provide Ontarians with essential vehicle repair and maintenance services that keep Ontario’s more than nine million vehicles in road-safe condition. AIA Canada looks forward to continued collaboration with the Ontario government and our post-secondary partners to ensure the industry is ready to service the vehicles of both today and tomorrow.”
The second project, which will be under the APMA’s purview, will see three-month paid job placements made available to the association’s more than 300-member-strong network.
With a focus on reaching underrepresented groups, the government’s press release says this project from the APMA will provide “online and hands-on training focused on manufacturing essentials, health and safety, effective oral communication, planning, troubleshooting and other critical industry skills,” in addition to a guaranteed transition to full-time employment following the placement.
These investments appear to be an effort on the part of Ontario’s government to fill the jobs it expects to be created following the completion of prospective EV battery plants in Windsor and St. Thomas.
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