The provincial government has pledged new funding to create opportunities for Windsor-Essex residents in the skilled trades.
Premier Doug Ford stopped in Windsor on Monday afternoon to announce that Queens Park has promised a $9-million investment to support skilled trades in the region.
"This includes $5.5-million for IBEW [International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers] Local 773, from our new Skills Development Fund Capital Stream, to build a new [24,000-square foot] training centre to train new electrical workers for jobs in the region's construction, manufacturing, and auto sectors," Ford said.
The new training facility will be built at the current IBEW site on North Service Road. The union hopes to complete the facility by the end of summer 2025. It will more than double the training capacity of its current facility.
"We'll be training our people and other people showing how great the IBEW is and we'll get them out into the workforce as fast as we can so that they can start building Ontario and building Windsor," said Karl Lovett, business manager of IBEW Local 773.
The Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) will receive $3-million for new training programs for about 1,500 auto sector workers in southwestern Ontario, emphasizing battery development and electric vehicles.
The remaining funds will be provided to the International Association of Bridge and Ironworkers (IABW) Local 700, to train 170 ironworkers and apprentices.
Ford was joined by Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie, Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini, Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens, plus representatives from IBEW Local 773 and the IABW Local 700.
The Ontario Skills Development Fund Capital Stream consists of $224-million in new funding.