Province commits $9M to train Windsor-Essex workers, majority to build expanded training facility for electrical workers
Citing a critical need for expanded training infrastructure to meet labour demands in Windsor-Essex, the union representing more than 400 active electrical workers in Essex and Kent counties is applauding a promise from the Ford government to invest millions into a new training centre.
The facility, spearheaded by International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 773, would more than double the current training capacity, equipping workers for high-demand jobs in construction, manufacturing, and the auto sector while helping alleviate a shortage of skilled electricians in the region.
The announcement was made Monday during a visit to Windsor by Ontario Premier Doug Ford at the IBEW Local 773 office on North Service Road.
Ford promised to invest more than $9 million from Ontario's Skills Development Fund to train approximately 2,300 workers for "in-demand careers" in Windsor-Essex.
IBEW Local 773 would receive $5.5 million to build a new 24,000-square-foot training facility to equip new electrical workers with the skills they need to secure jobs in construction, manufacturing, and the auto sectors.
Another $3 million would go toward OVIN (Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network) and OCI (Ontario Centres of Innovation) to train 1,500 auto sector workers, focusing on electric vehicle and battery development.
An additional $513,000 would be given to the International Association of Bridge and Ironworkers (IABW) Local 700 to upskill workers.
According to Karl Lovett, business manager for IBEW Local 773, their current training facility is about 10,000 square feet.
"We're going to more than double the size of the capacity of people we can train," he said. "This year, we took in 36 apprentices. The reason we only took in 36 apprentices is because we don't have the facility to be able to train these people."
IBEW Local 773 has more than 450 applications from people wanting to enter an apprenticeship program, Lovett said, but capacity issues mean they can't take all of them.
"We don't have the infrastructure behind us, nor do a lot of these other shops. They may take in one or two people a year," Lovett said.
The announcement comes at a time when Windsor has the highest unemployment rate in Canada, with homelessness remaining a major issue.
When asked what his government is doing to tackle the crisis, Premier Ford said, "the best hand up is getting a good-paying job."
"Let's bring them in here and give them a trade until they can go out there and get back on their feet and be able to pay rent and put a deposit down on a mortgage," Ford said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Federal government to further limit number of international students
The federal government will be further limiting the number of international students permitted to enter Canada next year. It's the government's latest immigration-related measure to address Canadians' ongoing housing and affordability concerns.
Search for suspect in Kentucky highway shooting ends with discovery of body believed to be his
Authorities say they believe the body of a man suspected of shooting and wounding five people on a Kentucky interstate highway has been found.
Here's why you should get all your vaccines as soon as possible
With all these shots, some Canadians may have questions about the benefit of each vaccine, whether they should get every shot and how often to get them, and if it's safe to get them all at once or if they should space them out.
Bloc MPs will vote confidence in Liberal government next week: Blanchet
The Conservatives' first shot at toppling the Liberal government is likely doomed to fail, after Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-François Blanchet told reporters his MPs will vote confidence in the government.
'I'm here for the Porsche': Video shows brazen car theft in Mississauga
Video of a brazen daylight auto theft which shows a suspect running over a victim in a stolen luxury SUV has been released by police west of Toronto.
Exploding electronic devices kill 20, wound 450 in second day of explosions in Lebanon
Lebanon's health ministry said Wednesday that at least 20 people were killed and 450 others wounded by exploding electronic devices in multiple regions of the country. The explosions came a day after an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000.
'It starts off innocent': Manitoba man loses $185,000 to crypto-romance scam
A Manitoba man is warning others after he fell victim to an elaborate online scam over the summer.
Teen faces new charge in Sask. high school arson attack
A 14-year-old student who allegedly set her classmate on fire is facing a new charge.
Quebec woman charged with first-degree murder in death of five-year-old boy
A 29-year-old Quebec woman is facing a first-degree murder charge in the death of a five-year-old boy southwest of Montreal.