More than $7.2M for skills training for 500+ workers in Northern Ontario

What happened

• The federal and Ontario governments are providing more than $7.2 million through the Canada–Ontario Workforce Tariff Response, delivered in the region through Skills Advance Ontario.
• The funding targets over 500 workers across northern Ontario with hands-on training and paid placements to move into in-demand roles.

By the numbers (from this release)

• Total announced for northern projects: $7,212,695
• Algoma Steel: $1,486,153 to upskill 250 employees
• Canadian Skills Training and Employment Coalition (CSTEC): $1,550,992 to train 120 manufacturing workers (4–18 week programs with paid placements)
• Confederation College: $2,780,400 to train 110 tariff-impacted workers in Thunder Bay for trades and commercial driving
• Washagamis Bay Investment Corporation: $1,395,150 to train 40 jobseekers (primarily Indigenous participants) in the Kenora area
• The broader Canada–Ontario Workforce Tariff Response is a $228.8 million initiative to help up to 27,000 workers across the province.

Why it matters

• Workers affected by tariffs and industry shifts get training and paid placements to move into jobs employers need locally.
• Employers in steel, manufacturing, forestry, construction and telecom get support to retain or hire skilled staff.

How to access support

• Skills Advance Ontario applications are accepted through Transfer Payment Ontario.
• Employment Ontario offers free employment services and training across more than 700 service locations (network served over 693,000 people in 2024–25, per the release).