For Immediate Release
January 17, 2006
MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT CREATING OPPORTUNITIES
FOR SKILLS TRAINING
Strengthening Pre-Apprenticeship Training To Support Economic Growth
NIAGARA FALLS – The McGuinty government is creating more than 700 pre-apprenticeship spaces across Ontario to help people qualify for skilled trades training, Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced today.
“In today’s economy, knowledge plus skills equals prosperity. By expanding access to pre-apprenticeships we are opening doors for people to learn a skilled trade,” Bentley said. “An apprenticeship enables a person to acquire skills for life that can lead to a well-paying, satisfying career.”
This year, Ontario is investing $7 million in 38 new projects that will prepare people who want to become apprentices for training in specific skilled trades. It includes projects for youth, Aboriginal peoples, women and under-represented groups.
“I am pleased that Niagara College will be offering 37 new pre-apprenticeship positions with this funding,” said Niagara Falls MPP Kim Craitor. “The skilled trades offer excellent career opportunities for people. They also ensure our economy in Niagara, and the province generally, has the trained workforce employers need to succeed.”.
"The announcement today is a marvellous example of government, education and industry working together in partnership to create employment opportunities for people, and to address the need for skilled workers in specific sectors that are vital to our local economy," said Dan Patterson, president of Niagara College.
Pre-Apprenticeship Training Programs enable individuals to strengthen their skills through academic upgrading, work placements and employment preparation courses.
Ontario has the largest apprenticeship training system in Canada. Apprenticeship training will be a key feature of Ontario’s new One-Stop Training and Employment System, a seamless and co-ordinated training network.
“Our commitment to apprenticeship training includes increasing the number of new apprenticeship registrations by 7,000 to a total of 26,000 annually in 2007-08,” said Bentley.
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Contacts :
Jennifer Norman
Minister’s Office
(416) 326-1615 Tanya Blazina
Communications Branch
(416) 325-2746
Public Inquiries:
(416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514
JOBGROW hotline
1-888-JOBGROW
TTY: 1-800-263-2892
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