WINDSOR, Ont. — Ontario is investing more than $64 million over the next three years to expand in-class apprenticeship training across the province, part of a broader push to strengthen the skilled trades workforce and prepare thousands of workers for in-demand jobs tied to Ontario’s infrastructure boom.
The investment, announced Tuesday by David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, will fund additional classroom training through the In-Class Enhancement Fund (IEF) — creating up to 4,000 new training seats each year and supporting up to 12,000 apprentices. The program also covers classroom fees of $10 per day for Level 1 apprentices.
“We need to keep building, no matter what global challenges come our way, to deliver on our $200 billion plan to build more infrastructure like highways, hospitals and schools,” said Piccini. “By expanding access to in-class training and removing barriers, we’re helping more apprentices gain the skills they need for good-paying jobs, while protecting them in the face of U.S. tariffs.”
Expanding Training to Meet Labour Demand
The funding aims to help Ontario’s growing number of apprentices complete their technical training faster and fill a widening labour gap in the skilled trades sector. Provincial data forecasts that one in eight job openings by 2029 will be in trades-related occupations, while one in three current trades workers is nearing retirement.
“Whether it is schools, highways, or hospitals, our province’s skilled trades workers are building the critical infrastructure that strengthens our communities and protects Ontario,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “Through this investment, our government is ensuring that apprentices get the education, training and skills they need to get rewarding, good-paying jobs that will build the Ontario of tomorrow.”
The In-Class Enhancement Fund supports training delivered through Ontario’s colleges, unions, and industry associations, and complements several other provincial initiatives designed to attract new entrants to the trades.
Since 2020, Ontario has invested more than $2.1 billion in skilled trades programs, including the Skills Development Fund Training Stream, which funds partnerships between employers, unions, and training organizations to develop specialized training opportunities.
Support from Industry and Labour
Industry and labour leaders welcomed the new investment as a practical step toward reducing training bottlenecks and ensuring a steady pipeline of skilled workers.
“This investment is exactly what Ontario’s skilled trades workforce needs right now,” said Marc Arsenault, Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “Expanding in-class training capacity means more apprentices can start and finish their programs on time, with fewer financial and logistical barriers. It’s a smart, practical step that ensures major infrastructure projects are built by a well-trained, local workforce. Our members are ready to build Ontario’s future, and this kind of support helps get them on the tools faster and safer.”
The government says it is also working with Skilled Trades Ontario (STO) to make the certification process more accessible by allowing apprentices to book Certificate of Qualification exams at certified testing centres closer to home — reducing travel, cost, and time away from work.
“This investment will make a real difference for apprentices across Ontario,” said Candice White, Chief Executive Officer of Skilled Trades Ontario. “Expanding access to in-class training means more people can complete their programs and start their careers faster. Skilled Trades Ontario welcomes the government’s continued commitment to strengthening apprenticeship training and supporting a highly skilled, job-ready workforce.”
Maureen Adamson, President and CEO of Colleges Ontario, said the move will also help post-secondary institutions meet growing labour market needs. “With the majority of in-class apprenticeship training delivered at Ontario’s colleges, colleges are essential to expanding the skilled workforce the province needs for its future,” she said. “Investments that enhance in-class apprenticeship training will ensure Ontario has the talent to meet growing labour market demands.”
Addressing Workforce Challenges
The funding is part of Ontario’s $159.3 million skilled trades strategy, first announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario. It follows a 7.3% increase in apprenticeship registrations in 2024–25, bringing the total to 28,875 new apprentices — the highest in a decade. Among youth aged 15 to 24, registrations jumped 13.5%, reflecting the province’s renewed focus on attracting younger workers to the trades.
The IEF investment adds about $21.4 million annually to the program’s budget, bringing total funding to $146.7 million for 2025–26. It is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and Government of Ontario.
The province is also running Level Up! career fairs across Ontario, a 29-day series of events expected to reach over 50,000 students, parents, and job seekers through live demonstrations and hands-on exhibits showcasing trades careers.
In August, the government announced an additional $75 million to create nearly 7,800 construction and urban planning seats at Ontario’s colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes, further strengthening its pipeline of homegrown talent.
By expanding training capacity and easing access to certification, officials say the province is preparing for sustained demand as Ontario continues to invest in large-scale projects in transit, health care, housing, and public infrastructure.
“This investment,” said Piccini, “is about giving people across Ontario the opportunity to build better lives for themselves and their families — and to keep building Ontario for generations to come.”
