Ontario is expanding its Skills Development Fund by another $955 million, bringing the total investment to $1 billion. The move comes as rising U.S. tariffs put pressure on key industries, including skilled trades and manufacturing. The fund is designed to give workers and businesses quick access to training support, focusing on upskilling, reskilling, and job placement. It targets sectors feeling the heat from trade disruptions, where layoffs and contract slowdowns have already started.
The Ontario Skill Development Fund will back sector-specific training programs offered through unions, private training centers, and community colleges. It also supports employer-led projects that provide on-the-job learning, mentorship, and fast-track certifications. To apply, interested applicants should submit their application through Transfer Payment Ontario.
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The timing is no accident. Ontario’s government flagged the tariffs as a threat to economic stability. The tariffs on steel, aluminum, and lumber drive up costs for builders, threatening the stability of local projects.
The province has said that getting ahead of potential layoffs by giving workers a pathway into high-demand roles is cheaper and more effective than waiting for job losses to mount.
Unlike past workforce programs, this fund is designed to move fast. Applications for the latest funding round opened immediately, with approvals promised in weeks, not months. The goal is to give employers the confidence to hold onto workers and to help displaced workers get into new roles before their skills erode.
For workers, the Ontario Skill Development Fund provides options. Instead of waiting out a market slump, trade workers can tap into training that puts them back on solid footing. Whether that’s welding certifications, safety retraining, or switching to industries seeing growth, the funding is there to help them make the switch.
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