Ontario Investing $6.3 Million to Train Skilled Workers in Walkerton
January 28, 2025
HURON – BRUCE — The Ontario government is investing $6,336,435 through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to support the development of a new training facility in Walkerton for LiUNA Local 1059. This investment is to help meet the increasing demand for skilled workers, alleviate the challenges of an aging workforce, expand current training capacity and service area, and to recruit and train residents from Huron, Bruce, Grey and Perth Counties. This latest round of funding brings Ontario’s total investment through the Skills Development Fund to up to $1.4 billion.
“Investing in skilled trades training is essential for building a strong and resilient workforce in Ontario,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce. “This investment will empower local residents and workers across the region to access hands-on training, opening doors to rewarding careers while strengthening our economy. Together, we are building a brighter future for Huron-Bruce and beyond.”
“As the demand for highly skilled workers continues to grow, LiUNA Local 1059 remains committed to equipping our members with the training and resources they need to build and maintain critical infrastructure across Southwestern Ontario,” said Brandon MacKinnon, Business Manager for LiUNA Local 1059. “With the support of the Ford government, our new Training Centre in Walkerton will greatly enhance our capacity to train the next generation of skilled workers, ensuring they have the tools to perform their jobs safely and effectively. By expanding training opportunities in Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth Counties, we are investing in a safer, stronger, and more sustainable workforce to support our communities today and into the future.”
Through the SDF, the government is investing up to $1.4 billion through SDF’s Training Stream and the Capital Stream which are designed to recruit, train and upskill workers and build or upgrade training centres for the skilled trades.
“Under Premier Ford, our government has an ambitious plan to build Ontario: from new housing that families can call home, to highways and public transit connecting our communities, and clean energy projects powering our economy. But after years of neglect and under-investment in the trades from previous Liberal governments, one in three tradespeople are nearing retirement,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “That’s why we’re partnering with local employers, unions, and educators to pass on the expertise and wisdom of the Golden Generation of Skilled Tradespeople to the next generation of students, apprentices, and workers who will build Ontario’s bright future.”
Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s Skills Development Fund has helped connect approximately 600,000 workers train or upskill for careers in the trades in their local communities, including over 92,000 manufacturing workers, over 66,000 construction workers, over 36,000 PSWs and healthcare workers, and over 27,000 mining, quarrying, oil and gas extraction workers.
QUOTES
“I am excited for the province’s investment in Bruce County,” said Luke Charbonneau, Warden of Bruce County. “LiUNA Local 1059’s new Training Centre in Walkerton is essential in meeting our infrastructure goals. It will provide opportunities for Bruce County residents, while addressing our skilled labour needs.”
- Luke Charbonneau, Warden of Bruce County
“LiUNA’s state-of-the-art facility in the East Ridge Business Park in Walkerton will address the critical need for skilled trades in our region,” said Chris Peabody, Mayor of the Municipality of Brockton. “This anchor facility will create invaluable opportunities for local youth while fostering growth within our business community and strengthening our workforce. I would like to extend my gratitude to Lisa Thompson, our MPP, and the Provincial Government for this transformative investment in Brockton.”
- Chris Peabody, Mayor of the Municipality of Brockton
“This is an exciting day for Brockton! As a proud grandparent of a LiUNA apprentice, I know firsthand the doors that skilled trades can open,” said Kym Hutcheon, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Brockton. “This new training facility will offer countless residents and neighboring communities the chance to pursue valued careers in trades for years to come. We can’t wait to see the first shovel hit the ground!”
- Kym Hutcheon, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Brockton
QUICK FACTS
- People interested in participating in the programs announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.
- The Capital Stream of the Skills Development Fund is exclusively funded by the Government of Ontario.
- The Training Stream of the Skills Development Fund is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
- As the Government of Canada has unilaterally cut over $230 million annually from Ontario’s Labour Market Transfer Agreements, which support employment and settlement service programs, Ontario continues to call for the federal government to reinstate this critical funding for Ontario workers and jobseekers.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES