The investment will support Ontario Shipyards Inc. in preparing aspiring trades professionals for lucrative and rewarding careers in the shipbuilding industry. Pictured: Ontario Premier Doug Ford. Photo Credit: Doug Ford/X.
Wednesday provided another significant moment for Niagara as Ontario Premier Doug Ford visited the city of St. Catharines to announce $10 million in new funding for Ontario Shipyards Inc., through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream. The investment will support Ontario Shipyards Inc. in preparing aspiring trades professionals for lucrative and rewarding careers in the shipbuilding industry.
“This is another example of how the Premier and this government are investing in Niagara workers and job creators,” said Sam Oosterhoff, Niagara West MPP and Associate Minister for Energy and Intensive Industries. “For too long, governments at Queen’s Park thought the world ended at the Burlington Skyway. With this government, record dollars are flowing into our region to help train people for good jobs, attract business investment, build up our healthcare and mental health system and build new schools.”
“It’s been great to see Premier Ford come down to Niagara so many times. You can really tell Niagara is a priority for him and this government.”
Ontario Shipyards Inc. is the biggest Canadian ship construction and repair servicing company surrounding the Great Lakes. While operating locations in Hamilton, St. Catharines, and Thunder Bay, Ontario Shipyards Inc. fills a pivotal role in providing and maintaining the necessary transportation equipment to carry out national and international trade. Ontario Shipyards Inc. will utilize these funds to train workers in trades such as electrical, millwright, painting, as well as welding. They will also deliver practical classes that will cover shipyard orientation, health and safety protocols and imperative overviews about building and repairing ships.
“This is an exciting time for St. Catharines,” said Mayor Mat Siscoe. “We have been working with the Ontario government over my time in office to continue to enhance the marine sector here in Ontario, and that work included asking for additional opportunities with Skills Development in the marine sector. This announcement is a clear indication that the government is listening and understands the value of the shipbuilding and ship repair industry here in St. Catharines and across Niagara.”
“We welcome the announcement, and we look forward to the continued opportunities it brings for Ontario Shipyards and all of the spin-off industries here in St. Catharines,” Siscoe continued. “The government’s commitment to the Ontario Marine Strategy will allow us to again demonstrate the high quality of St. Catharines workers.”
The SDF Training Stream exists to provide craftspeople with access to hands-on training that will allow them to fill jobs in construction, health care, manufacturing, and various trades. The Ontario government has invested over $1 billion through the SDF Training Stream since 2021, for which the fifth round of applications opened last month, to train hundreds of thousands of workers province-wide in meeting the rapidly expanding need for skilled labourers.
“We’re proud to invest in the workers who are powering Ontario’s world-class shipbuilding industry here in St. Catharines and communities across the province,” said Ford. “We need all levels of government to step up and recognize the extraordinary potential of this industry and its workers by ensuring that much-needed Canadian vessels are built in Ontario, by Ontario shipbuilders.”
Those interested in learning more about Ontario Shipyards Inc. and/or the Skills Development Fund Training Stream can do so at the following links: Ontario Shipyards Inc. and Skills Development Fund Training Stream.
Nick Redekop completed his Honours Bachelor of Arts Degree in Labour Studies at Brock University. He has previously served in municipal and federal politics. In his free time, Nick enjoys following sports, taking part in outdoor activities, and reading biographies. Nick resides in Niagara Falls
