Community colleges deserve more support for skilled trades training

The message is getting through, finally. More people are pursuing careers in the skilled trades. Now, we owe it to future generations of tradespeople, to make sure their path to success is as smooth as possible.

Ontario is attracting aspiring skilled tradespeople in record numbers. Last year, apprenticeship registrations were up by 24 percent. A record 27,000 students and job seekers signed on to begin their journey to lucrative, high demand careers in the skilled trades.

Community colleges offer a unique blend of academic learning and practical training for apprentices. Many of our member companies at the Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) work in partnership with colleges. Employers give apprentices hands-on training, and the opportunity to apply valuable classroom instruction that they’ve received through local community colleges.

Colleges have become an integral part of our communities. They’re providing over 80 percent of in-class training for Ontario’s apprentices, at campuses in small towns and cities across the province. This is where many young people live and work, and where there’s a vested interest in ensuring a local workforce has the skills to build a range of infrastructure, from a new correctional complex in Thunder Bay to a new hospital in Kingston. 

Despite the critical role that colleges play in training the next generation of skilled tradespeople, funding levels for college apprenticeship training is lagging.   

This could be addressed by allowing colleges to access the Ontario Skills Development Fund (SDF). Since its inception in late 2020, the Ontario government has provided organizations with nearly $1 billion for innovative programs to tackle challenges in hiring, training and retaining workers, including apprentices.

While industry associations, employers and unions have welcomed additional resources through the Skills Development Fund, Ontario’s colleges are unable to access this crucial funding, despite their leading role in training apprentices. Allowing Ontario colleges to tap into Skills Development Funding, would help provide them with the needed resources to expand training to more regions, where there’s real demand.

For example, anyone outside of Toronto who wants to become a sprinkler fitter, cannot take a community college course in their region. The only training available in all of Ontario for this trade, is in Toronto, which forces apprentices to take on additional travel and housing costs.

Further consideration should be given to expanding the training network for skilled trades across the province. Community colleges are uniquely positioned to deliver this training.