Thompson, Rae Announce over $419,000 for Free Pre-apprenticeship Training
Stratford, ON— Today, Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington, and Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron-Bruce announced $419,892 in funding to provide local, free pre-apprenticeship training for those in the skilled trades. This funding is part of the government’s record investment in nearly 100 free pre-apprenticeship programs around the province to promote careers in the skilled trades to young people and help tackle the province’s historic labour shortage.
“Our government is making it easier for people seeking a career in the trades to enter the workforce,” said Lisa Thompson, MPP for Huron Bruce. “This funding will contribute to the growth and overall health of this industry by supporting pre-apprenticeship programs. In doing so, we’re bringing these programs closer to home while helping numerous individuals start a lifelong, lucrative career in the trades – and positioning our region for future growth and economic prosperity.”
“Attracting more people to the skilled trades will be integral as we look to achieve our goal of building 1.5 million homes over the next decade,” Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington said. “There are over 140 trades in Ontario, offering good-paying jobs, including right here in Perth-Wellington.”
Led by the Technical Training Group, this project will provide those interested across Perth and Huron Counties with the skills and experience they need to get a good-paying job in the skilled trades. Training locations include Stratford, Listowel, and Clinton.
“Ontario is combatting the largest labour shortage in a generation, and each one of these jobs unfilled is a paycheque waiting to be collected,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “When you have a career in the skilled trades, you have a career for life. Our government will continue to invest in innovative training opportunities that give young people the tools they need to build better lives for themselves and stronger communities for us all.”
“Technical Training Group (TTG) is excited to be awarded funding again this year to deliver three 25-week Manufacturing Pre-Apprenticeship Programs in Huron and Perth Counties,” Cavell Fraser, Executive Director of Technical Training Group said. “These Pre-Apprenticeship Programs are a great example of government, business, education, community partners and industry working together to support our communities and change people’s lives.”
The programs are tuition-free and allow TTG to deliver welding, metal fabricating and machining training at school tech facilities in Stratford, Clinton, and Listowel in the evenings and on weekends, when not in use by day students. The programs also include an 8-week paid work placement with local employers which can lead to full time employment and apprenticeship opportunities in the manufacturing sector.
“These government funded programs are contributing to increasing the number of skilled trade workers in our communities and providing residents with opportunities for well-paying in-demand jobs,” Fraser concluded.
“The Technical Training Group has a great history of providing skilled trades training locally,” Rae added. “I know they will continue to do a wonderful job of preparing our future tradespeople for a rewarding career.”
To help increase participation in the skilled trades, the government has recently made changes including making it easier for high school students to explore these careers, requiring women’s-only washrooms on constructions sites, announcing a $224 million investment in building and upgrading training centres.
This funding is part of the government’s nearly $1.5 billion-dollar investment in the Skilled Trades Strategy, from 2021-22 to 2023-24.
Funding allocations are as follows:
| Program Location | Pre-Apprenticeship Funding |
| Clinton | $ 139,964 |
| Listowel | $ 139,964 |
| Stratford | $ 139,964 |
| Total | $ 419,892 |