For Immediate Release
January 17, 2006
McGUINTY GOVERNMENT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SKILLS TRAINING IN WINDSOR
Expanding pre-apprenticeship training to support economic growth
WINDSOR – The McGuinty government is providing more opportunities for people in Windsor to qualify to learn a skilled trade through the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program, Windsor West MPP Sandra Pupatello, announced today.
“We are expanding access to apprenticeships in the skilled trades because in today’s economy, knowledge plus skills equals prosperity,” said Pupatello.
In Windsor, this new investment will provide pre-apprenticeship training in precision metal fabrication for up to 20 people. The training will be provided by St. Clair College and their Job Connect Literacy and Basic Skills Program.
The provincial government is creating more than 700 pre-apprenticeship spaces across Ontario to help people qualify for skilled trades training. The government is investing $7 million in 38 new projects that will prepare people who want to become apprentices in a specific skilled trade.
Today’s announcement builds upon other government initiatives to increase the number of apprentices in Ontario to 26,000 by 2007-08. These measures include the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit, which covers a portion of an employer’s wages for new apprentices, and the creation of 1,500 scholarships of $1000 each for students who leave high school but return to graduate and enter an apprenticeship program.
Apprenticeship training will be a key feature of Ontario’s new One-Stop Training and Employment System, a seamless and co-ordinated training network.
“Apprenticeship training is an attractive career option for young people to consider, along with a college and university education,” said Pupatello.
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For more information:
Sara Best
416-325-5219
