HB NEWS LABOUR MINISTER ANNOUNCES $3.7M INVESTMENT IN OAKVILLE DAVID LEA dlea@metroland.com Ontario's minister of la- pour r stopped by the Spark ‘aining facility in Oabeil, on on Thursday, Oct. 6 to announce a $3.7-mil- lion investment to help 2,500 workers start or ad- vance careers in the con- struction industry. nnte McNaughton, minister of labour, immi- gration, training and skills development, said the in- vestment is necessary since, in this decade alone, Ontario will need 100,000 more construction work- ers ‘to help deliver the prov- infrastructure plans. “Construction workers are the backbone of Cana- da. They are heroes who keep our province running by building the roads, hos- pitals, homes, and schools we rely on every day," he said. > SS Jameson Glas READERS "With billions of dollars in projects on the horizon, including building 1.5-mil- trades workers is only go- ing tocontinue torise... We need all hands on deck and that includes helping those on social assistance and those with criminal back- grounds get the skills and training they need to fill these vital and rewarding jobs.” The minister noted that with funding from Onta- rio's Skills Development Fund, Merit Ontario, an or- ganization that supports contractors who employ both wnionized and non- rkers, is ex- panding! is ‘online job bank to match thousands of peo- ple with well-paying con- struction jobs in their own communities. McNaughton said the job bank helps jobseekers assess their skills, access axing FOR womens EN TEAALEORS Province of Ontario photo Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Monte McNaughton announces a $3.7-million investment in construction workers during an Oakville visit. additional training, and prepare for interviews. The provincial funding is also supporting Merit's online training centre, Construction i which is helping up to 2,500 workers train for the next step in their careers and earn more take-home pay. “Already Merit has B HAxeELL Law [ff isiupdlare rast=aiiiale ra Re-financing? (oI RUCmielar-Relleltca-la 905-845-0767 ext. 223 T: 905-845-0767 - F: 905-845-5552 Always Here to Help You! ) Y Patient Counselling ¥ Complete Diabetic Care / Home Visits / Consultations V Free RX Delivery v Free Nut v Vaccinations / Cholesterol, AIC, AFib and DNA Screening in Counsel DE RANGO PHARMACY INC. www.shoppersdrugmart.ca helped hundreds of work- ers start lucrative careers as electricians, plumbers, millwrights, carpenters, paying, purpose-driven jobs where youcan earn $40 an hour or even more. He also said the organi- zation has helped 150 com- panies find the workers they need. “The Government of Ontario's continued in- estment in Construction Ontario helps small and medium-sized _construc- tion employers and their employees access high- quality, engaging and ac- cessible training to help ike lardo, President and CEO owe thank t the Govern: ment of Ontari ter McNaughton £ for their continued commitment to ensuring w ‘kers across the province shave access to training no matter where they live." Gallardo said this an- nouncement shows that the government means business and is committed to combating the labour A PLACE,TO WE 1459 NOTTINGHILL GATE OAKVILLE 905-469-3232 DELMANOR.COM well CHOOSE YOUR LIFESTYLE. INDEPENDENT LIVING, SUPPORTIVE LIVING AND SHORT TERM STAYS DELMANOR Glen Abbey Inspired Retirement Living™ shortage currently plagu- ing Ontario. Oakville MPP Stephen Crawford said pleased that ma: ane of ‘ihe = 2,500 jobs discussed during the announcement will be based in town. The Merit project is be- ing funded by Ontario's Skills Development Fund, a $560-million initiative that supports innovative ith a goal to connect job seekers with the skills and training they need to find well- Paying careers close to home The minister said this third round of skills devel- opment funding, launched in September, Drlonttizes: projects that support peo- ple social assistance and people with criminal For more information, visit https://constructio- nontario.ca/find-jobs/ or https://constructiononta- woo"uoyEYyapIsUt ‘el senoRO as | seneeg emyeo | ZL 8 8 8