260 Million for Skills Development Fund

Applications for the largest round of the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to train workers in manufacturing, construction and technology to open next week

The Ontario government is investing up to an additional $260 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream to tackle the province’s labour shortage and connect Ontario workers with high-paying jobs in their communities. This will be the largest round of funding since the SDF Training Stream was launched in 2021 and brings Ontario’s total investment through the Fund to up to $1.4 billion. The government is also investing over $7.2 million through a previous round of SDF to train nearly 3,300 workers in the Kitchener area and across Ontario.

“Our government’s record investments in the Skills Development Fund are helping connect workers here in Kitchener and across the province to better jobs and bigger paycheques,” said Premier Doug Ford. “By continuing to work for workers and make these important investments, we are also tackling Ontario’s labour shortage and bringing back good-paying jobs in manufacturing and the skilled trades.”

Building on the success of the previous four rounds, Ontario will open the fifth round of SDF Training Stream on July 29, 2024, to address challenges for recruiting, training and upskilling workers for in-demand sectors such as manufacturing, construction and technology. Organizations eligible for funding include employers, employment service, training providers, labour unions, community organizations, business and industry organizations, municipalities, hospitals, Indigenous Band offices, Indigenous skills and employment training agreement holders and service system managers.

“Under Premier Ford, our government has revived our province’s manufacturing and construction sectors – and the key to our success is Ontario’s workers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why our government is launching the biggest round of our Skills Development Fund yet by investing up to $260 million to train even more workers across the province. Whether your passion is developing the next generation of EVs, building nuclear power stations or creating homes for new families, our government is making sure you have the opportunity to thrive.”

The announcement was made in Kitchener, where the government also announced an investment of over $7.2 million through the fourth round of SDF to train nearly 3,300 local workers and jobseekers for well-paying careers in manufacturing and construction. This brings Ontario’s total investment in training for Kitchener area workers to over $20 million. These projects include:

• Canadian Tooling and Machining Association: $5,466,080 to create technical skills development opportunities for at least 3,000 high school students in manufacturing technology programs. This funding will also deliver 300 paid job placements for approximately 160 young people and create 30 new apprenticeships in the precision metalworking industry across Ontario, including tool and die makers, mould makers and computer-numerical-control (CNC) machinists.
• Grand Valley Construction Association: $1,086,058 to deliver free job-ready training for careers in construction such as painting, drywall, carpentry, roofing and masonry work, as well as health and safety training, and match participants with local employers through paid job placements. Participants will include jobseekers and people from underrepresented and vulnerable groups such as Indigenous people, newcomers, and justice-involved individuals in Waterloo, Brant and Wellington regions.
• Christian Labour Association of Canada: $723,688 to provide free training and paid job placements for workers in construction. The training will focus on the basics of construction and essential skills in health, safety and wellness. Participants will include women, Indigenous people, newcomers, young people, underrepresented people and justice-involved individuals across the province.

Quick Facts

• SDF Training Stream Round 5 application will open on July 29, 2024, and will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until October 4, 2024. Interested organizations can apply through Transfer Payment Ontario and send inquiries to skillsdevelopmentfund@ontario.ca.
• SDF comprises two streams: the Training Stream supports hiring, training, and upskilling programs for jobseekers, apprentices, and workers; and the Capital Stream supports upgrades or construction of training centres for the skilled trades. The total investment for both streams is to up to $1.4 billion.
• Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF Training Stream has helped almost 600,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including over 66,000 construction workers, over 92,000 manufacturing workers and over 36,000 PSWs and health-care workers. 
• There were 23,300 jobs recently going unfilled in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Barrie economic region.
• Cambridge is a growing area that needs workers. Between 2016 and 2021, Cambridge's population grew by 6.6 per cent, increasing from 129,920 to 138,479 residents. This growth rate is higher than the Ontario average of 5.8 per cent and higher than the national average of 5.2 per cent. 
• People interested in participating in the projects announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.
• The SDF Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.