OSTA Welcomes Ontario Budget 2019 Focus on Creating a Modernized Apprenticeship and Skilled Trades System

TORONTO, April 11, 2019 /CNW/ - The Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance (OSTA) commends the Ford Government's focus on overhauling and modernizing the provincial apprenticeship and skilled trades system in Budget 2019, Protecting What Matters Most. By committing to reform and streamline pathways into the trades, skills training, and transitioning between trades, the government is demonstrating their commitment to work with employers to find innovative solutions to closing the skills gap.

"We are thrilled that the government has recognized the need for truly transformative changes to the apprenticeship and skilled trades system," said Patrick McManus, Chair of the OSTA. "For years, employers have been calling for an overhaul of how apprenticeships, training, and skills promotion are managed in Ontario. Protecting What Matters Most responds to these appeals for change and will help our skilled workforce to stay in-step with the changing needs of industry and the economy."

Protecting What Matters Most contains a number of new initiatives, including:

• Establishing a new governance framework through proposed new legislation to replace the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009;
• A new financial incentive program to support employers to come together and train apprentices;
• Promoting apprenticeship and the skilled trades as a pathway choice for all students from kindergarten to Grade 12; and,
• Enhancing and streamlining labour market information for job seekers to help identify opportunities for relevant education, training and reskilling, and career opportunities.

"This change in approach is important to ensure that we are training people in the skills needed for employment in the provincial labour market," added McManus. "We look forward to working with the government, and other stakeholders across the skilled trades, to inform the design of these new processes which will help to enhance access to careers in the skilled trades."

The Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance represents companies that employ over 400,000 skilled tradespeople across Ontario who build transit, hospitals, bridges and homes and provide professional and personal services like hair-styling and automotive repair. OSTA members are united by the common goal of closing the skills gap in Ontario.

SOURCE Ontario Skilled Trades Alliance