The Ontario government is committing $75 million to train up to 7,800 additional students in construction and urban planning programs, a move officials say will bolster the province’s workforce in the face of U.S. tariffs and support its $200-billion infrastructure agenda.
Announced Thursday in Whitby by the Ministry of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security, the funding will create new seats at colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes across the province. The initiative aims to ensure Ontario has the skilled talent needed to deliver on major housing, transportation, health care and community projects over the coming decade.
“Our government has bold plans to build the Ontario of tomorrow, and it is critical that we have the homegrown, highly skilled workers to get it done,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “From designing roadways to building homes, this investment will ensure our students have the training they need to launch rewarding, in-demand careers that protect and strengthen Ontario’s future in the face of economic uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs.”
Expanding seats in high-demand programs
The investment will fund up to 7,500 new seats at colleges and Indigenous Institutes in construction-related programs such as welding, carpentry and renovation techniques. It will also add up to 300 new graduate-level seats in urban and land use planning at Ontario universities by 2028.
“In the midst of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty, it’s more important than ever to strengthen our skilled workforce,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “We have an ambitious plan to build Ontario, and by investing in more seats for skills training today, we are protecting the jobs of tomorrow. Each of these additional seats will help ensure Ontario workers can land better jobs with bigger paycheques.”
Colleges set to receive funding for expanded construction training as early as September 2025 include Cambrian College, Confederation College, Collège Boréal, La Cité, Centennial College, Durham College, George Brown College, Humber Polytechnic, Conestoga College, Fleming College, Georgian College, Niagara College, Fanshawe College, and Kenjgewin Teg, an Indigenous Institute.
Graduate planning programs at Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Guelph, York University and University of Waterloo will also receive funding.
“Investments like this strengthen Durham College’s ability to transform lives by preparing career-ready graduates who will help meet Ontario’s housing and infrastructure needs,” said Dr. Elaine Popp, President of Durham College.
Supporting housing and infrastructure growth
Officials say the investment is essential to meeting the labour needs tied to Ontario’s ten-year, $200 billion infrastructure plan, which includes new homes, highways, hospitals and community facilities. The province is also positioning the funding as part of its broader strategy to shield the economy from external pressures, including U.S. trade actions.
Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said: “Our government is equipping the next generation of home builders with the skills, training, and support they need to succeed. These future tradespeople and planners will be the driving force behind the homes, communities, and infrastructure that will power Ontario’s growth for generations to come.”
Kinga Surma, Minister of Infrastructure, emphasized the urgency: “The next three years will be critical for Ontario’s construction industry as more critical infrastructure projects exit the planning phase and enter active construction than ever before.”
Sector-wide support
The announcement drew endorsements from post-secondary leaders, industry associations, labour groups and planning organizations.
Maureen Adamson, Interim President and CEO of Colleges Ontario, called it a “timely investment to continue to build the workforce of the future and prosperity for Ontario.”
Steve Orsini, President and CEO of the Council of Ontario Universities, said the funding “will help more students receive the vital training they need to shape and grow our local communities.”
Industry groups including the Ontario Home Builders’ Association, the Building Industry and Land Development Association, and the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers praised the move as essential to addressing labour shortages and sustaining growth.
Marsha Josephs, Executive Director of the Indigenous Institutes Consortium, said the investment would expand culturally grounded training opportunities for Indigenous learners, leading to “good jobs and rewarding careers, and a more prosperous and equitable Ontario.”
Quick facts
- Ontario offers approximately 240 construction-related techniques and technician programs at postsecondary institutions.
- The province has six universities with accredited graduate-level planning programs.
- Since 2021, the Skills Development Fund has invested $1.5 billion to train more than one million workers, including over 154,000 in construction.
By boosting capacity in skilled trades and planning programs, the province says it is ensuring that Ontario’s ambitious infrastructure agenda is matched by a steady supply of qualified professionals — a workforce ready to deliver the homes, transportation networks and community facilities that will shape the province’s future.
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