Ontario unveils new funding for skills development

The Ontario government is set to launch the second round of its Skills Development Fund (SDF) Capital Stream on November 29, offering over $74 million to enhance training facilities for trades like construction, manufacturing, and healthcare. Additionally, nearly $5 million from the first round will go to the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) to create a new crane training facility in Barrie, benefiting over 1,600 workers. Launched in 2021, the SDF aims to support over one million workers by developing training facilities and programs. The fund has two streams: the Training Stream for hiring and upskilling and the Capital Stream for training center construction, with a total investment of up to $1.4 billion.