Skills Ontario presents budget recommendations to Government of Ontario, aims to continue to fill labour shortage and reach underrepresented groups in skilled trades

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Ontario Construction News staff writer

Skills Ontario has issued a statement outlining its budget recommendations to the Ontario Government.

In the statement issued on Monday, the organization says: โ€œThe pandemic has underscored the critical role that skilled trades and technology careers play in keeping our economy, our health care system, and our society running as smoothly as possible during these extraordinary times. Meanwhile, the situation has exacerbated an already significant shortage of skilled trades professionals.

โ€œSkills Ontario is offering recommendations to the Government of Ontario for the forthcoming budget, with suggestions to scale up Skills Ontarioโ€™s programming, increase commitments to reaching underrepresented groups in skilled trades, and sustain and increase funding to Skills Ontario.โ€

โ€œBy virtue of in-kind and financial support, Skills Ontario is able to offer programming that inspires and encourages youth to pursue skilled trade and technology careers,โ€ the statement says.

โ€œThrough the organizationโ€™s partnership with the Government of Ontario, Skills Ontario can develop and deliver initiatives to build the provinceโ€™s future skilled workforce, engaging youth, parents, employers, and more.โ€

โ€œOn behalf of Skills Ontario, we acknowledge and thank the Government of Ontario for its continued support,โ€ says CEO Ian Howcroft. โ€œWe are proud to have developed our existing initiatives, as well as created new programming, in response to the sudden shift to the virtual world in light of the pandemic. Looking at our results and feedback, itโ€™s evident that are positively impacting Ontarians, and with todayโ€™s proposed recommendations, we hope to continue to play a key role in securing a stronger economy and future.โ€

โ€œThe skilled trades are an essential part of the recovery and future of our economy,โ€ Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, said at the Skills Ontario Virtual Skills Summit on June 30. โ€œWe need to continue to promote the skilled trades to young people to give them access to jobs that are fulfilling, meaningful, and well-paid, and to keep the many industries that depend on skilled trades thriving. Skills Ontario does this very well.โ€

โ€œSkills Ontario provides learning opportunities for youth, ensuring that the provinceโ€™s future leaders are aware of their pathways so that they can make informed career decisions,โ€ the Skills Ontario statement said. โ€œThe organization engages a vast network of key stakeholders in the apprenticeship system and will continue to bring these groups together to provide input and support to help enhance outcomes across the skills ecosystem.โ€

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