Ontario Investing $260 Million to Protect and Train Workers

The Ontario government is continuing to deliver on its plan to protect workers by launching the sixth round of the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream. This round will provide $260 million for innovative projects that support the hiring, training and upskilling of workers in manufacturing, health care, construction, automotive and other skilled trades. This investment is part of the government’s $2.5 billion investment through SDF to protect Ontario workers by giving them the tools they need to land rewarding, good-paying jobs, while keeping Ontario competitive in the face of U.S. tariffs and global economic uncertainty.

“Our government is protecting Ontario by training the workers we need to keep building, no matter what global challenges come our way,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Through this $260 million investment in the Skills Development Fund, we’re funding results-driven training to build the strong workforce we need to support workers and their families and keep building Ontario’s economy.”

After five successful rounds of the SDF training stream, starting today, a wide range of organizations can now apply for project funding. Employers, employment service and training providers, labour unions, business and industry organizations, hospitals, Indigenous Band offices, Indigenous skills and employment training agreement holders, service system managers and other community organizations eligible for funding can submit their proposals through Transfer Payment Ontario. Applications will close on October 1, 2025.

The announcement was made today in Toronto, where Minister Piccini also announced an investment of over $20 million through the fifth round of SDF to train 4,825 workers and jobseekers for careers in the skilled trades, hospitality and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in health care. These projects include:

• Support Ontario Youth: $3,750,000 to support 1325 jobseekers, high school graduates and apprentices across 15 skilled trades through tailored education, hands on training, mentorship and employer matching. People interested in participating can visit https://toolsinthetrades.ca/.
• Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters: $1,434,786 to training and upskill 500 individuals, including women, youth and newcomers for careers in manufacturing. People interested in participating can apply through https://cme-mec.ca/cme-ontario-skills-development-program/
• Unite Here Local 75: $5,500,000 to train and upskill 1,440 jobseekers and hospitality workers for roles in Ontario’s hospitality sector by offering foundational skills, hands-on training and certifications.
• Finishing Trades Institute of Ontario: $3,776,668 to train 120 participants for painting and glazing trades across Toronto, Ottawa and Ancaster through job readiness training and 12-week placements. Additionally, 800 members of the trade will receive critical upskilling. People interested in participating can apply through Training the Future Workforce: Apprenticeship Readiness Program.
• Ontario Electrical League: $2,995,000 to help 500 journeypersons, registered apprentices, people residing in remote/rural communities with financial aid, training, outreach to address labour shortages in the electrical sector. People interested in participating can apply by contacting the Ontario Electrical League at 905-238-1382.
• Workers First Technologies: $2,013,500 to create digital cross training for Personal Support Workers, Registered Practical Nurses, and Registered Nurses in hospitals and long-term care centres to improve patient care. Learn more at www.workersfirst.io.
• Youth Employment Services (YES): $1,105,125 to provide 140 unemployed youth and other underrepresented groups such as women and people with disabilities with opportunities to learn in-demand skills in Cyber and artificial intelligence (AI). People interested in participating can apply through www.yes.on.ca/career-jumpstart

Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF has supported over 1,000 training projects across the province that aims to connect over 700,000 people with training for better jobs with bigger paycheques. As announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, this next round of funding for the SDF Training Stream is part of the government’s nearly $1 billion expansion of the SDF over the next three years, for a total of $2.5 billion, to support major industries and sectors while training the workers needed to build and strengthen Ontario’s economy to withstand whatever comes our way

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