Hamilton, ON — Ontario is investing $70 million to help workers threatened by U.S. tariffs retrain, upskill and re-enter the workforce in what Premier Doug Ford is calling a proactive defence of the province’s economy and jobs.
The investment, announced Wednesday in Hamilton, will expand training and employment services through two major initiatives: the Protect Ontario Workers Employment Response (POWER) Centres and enhancements to the Better Jobs Ontario (BJO) program. Officials said the funding aims to blunt the impact of U.S. trade policies that have put manufacturing-heavy regions of Ontario at risk.
“Ontario has the best workers in the world. When their livelihoods are threatened by decisions in Washington, we won’t leave them behind,” said Premier Ford. “By investing $70 million in new training and rapid-response centres, we’re making sure that workers can retrain fast, land good-paying jobs and get back to work building a stronger, more resilient Ontario that can stand up to anything that comes our way.”
Rapid-Response Employment Centres
The government is allocating $20 million to expand POWER Centres, a new generation of rapid-response employment hubs. Unlike traditional Action Centres, which were set up only after layoffs, the POWER model allows the province to launch supports proactively, even before job losses occur. Officials said the centres will be able to respond within 24 hours of a layoff notice.
The facilities will connect workers with job search tools, retraining programs, and Employment Ontario services, leveraging partnerships with unions, community groups, and post-secondary institutions.
“We’re helping Ontario workers get the training and support they need, when they need it the most,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “As we adapt to global economic shifts, our government is meeting the moment with a plan to protect our workforce and give them the training and tools they need to land secure, good-paying jobs.”
Union representatives welcomed the move, pointing to the proven track record of existing Action Centres.
“We are very proud of the great work our current Action Centres do, providing peer-to-peer advice and assistance to workers who lose their jobs. Each year they help over 1,000 laid-off workers,” said Kevon Stewart, Director, District 6 and Atlantic Canada, United Steelworkers (USW). “We are very excited to see that Minister Piccini and this government are enhancing their ability to help workers through the POWER Centres program, which will not only enable us to create new Action Centres and proactively respond to upcoming layoffs, but also provide more stable funding and allow the existing Job Action Centres to provide additional services.”
Expanded Training Support
The other $50 million will go toward Better Jobs Ontario, which provides financial assistance to job seekers pursuing vocational and skills training. The province said the additional investment will extend access to more people, including youth, social assistance recipients, and others struggling to secure stable employment.
Eligible participants can receive up to $35,000 for costs such as tuition, transportation, and childcare. Since January 2021, nearly 16,000 Ontarians have received retraining support through the program.
Local and Political Reaction
Hamilton, one of Ontario’s largest manufacturing hubs, has been among the communities most vulnerable to U.S. tariffs and global trade uncertainty. Local representatives emphasized the importance of ensuring workers have pathways back into stable employment.
“Our government continues to protect Ontario and its skilled workers as U.S. tariffs hit our industries. This $70 million investment announced today in Hamilton will allow skilled workers to train specifically for in-demand work and ensure those affected by layoffs can re-enter the workforce,” said Monica Ciriello, MPP for Hamilton Mountain.
Neil Lumsden, MPP for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, added: “U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty are threatening some of our most vital sectors here in Hamilton, which is one of the largest manufacturing hubs in our province. That’s why our government is focused on protecting workers and our economy and this investment is needed now more than ever. We are stepping up to provide the training, resources and assistance that workers need to keep bringing home good paycheques.”
Other government members reinforced the political message that Ontario would not allow U.S. trade policy to dictate local job losses.
“Ontario workers shouldn’t pay the price for decisions made in Washington,” said Chris Scott, MPP for Sault Ste. Marie. “Our government is taking action and with new POWER Centres we’re putting real training, real dollars and real support on the table to protect paycheques and keep workers in good-paying jobs.”
Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath also welcomed the announcement: “I welcome these investments in POWER enhanced training hubs and Better Jobs Ontario. I look forward to Hamiltonians being able to more easily access training and supports and build the skills that open doors to good, stable jobs right here in our city.”
Broader Economic Strategy
The new funding is part of a larger provincial plan to position Ontario as the most competitive jurisdiction in the G7. The 2025 budget included nearly $1 billion in Skills Development Fund spending over the next three years, bringing total investment in the program to $2.5 billion.
The province said POWER Centres and BJO are supported through federal-provincial labour market transfer agreements. This year alone, 10 Action Centres helped nearly 15,000 workers across Ontario.
By investing heavily in retraining and rapid-response employment services, the Ford government is betting that Ontario workers can weather the turbulence of global trade disputes and emerge with the skills needed for an evolving economy.
