Our government is working hard to deliver on items that matter to Ontarians. In this edition of the Weekly Update, you can find the latest news on what the province is doing to:
- Add More Jobs to our Economy
- Provide Training for Job Seekers in the Skilled Trades
- Increase the Province’s Corrections Capacity
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Creating More Jobs with Bigger Paycheques
For the fifth consecutive month, employment in Ontario has increased, reinforcing our government’s plan to rebuild the economy with better jobs and bigger paycheques by investing in people and communities while keeping costs down. Since our government came into office in 2018, the province has added over 750,000 new jobs, including more than 130,000 jobs, this year alone.
Last month, we were thrilled to join Sanofi Canada at the official opening of its new, $800 million vaccine manufacturing facility. This new world-class facility in Toronto is going to help meet the growing global demand for life-saving vaccines and employ approximately 200 people.
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We were also pleased to lead a delegation of 29 companies at BIO, the world’s largest biotechnology convention in California, where we announced a $40 million investment to help Ontario life sciences companies and biomanufacturers innovate, grow and compete in global markets.
Whether its in our manufacturing, technology or life sciences sectors, our government will continue to create the conditions for job growth and work to ensure our companies can thrive, even as we navigate these uncertain times.
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Ontario Creating Pathways for Youth to Enter the Skilled Trades
The Ontario government is investing over $4.7 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) in three Niagara Region-based projects that will provide free training to 2,318 youth, apprentices and jobseekers that will prepare them for in-demand careers in the skilled trades. This brings Ontario’s total investment in skills development and training through SDF to nearly $1.1 billion that supports the hiring, training, and retaining of youth in the skilled trades.
The Ontario government is partnering with industry to deliver free training programs, including:
- Civiconnect Youth Community Engagement Organization: $3 million to help 350 youth aged 14 to 29 in Niagara Region develop technical and workplace preparedness skills for careers in the skilled trades, digital marketing, web development, digital system administration, cloud computing and information technology. Participants will work on projects submitted by businesses in the community.
- Edge Factor Inc is receiving $1,087,600 for a project that aims to showcase careers and opportunities in the skilled trades online for 1,920 youth, jobseekers, parents and community members in Niagara Region and across Ontario.
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local 1007 is receiving $650,369 to purchase and outfit a new six-booth welding trailer in Niagara Region. The new industry-standard equipment and technology will enable Local 1007 to train, test and certify an additional 48 apprentices and journeypersons on various types of welding to meet industry and employer demand in Ontario.
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“We have heard from young people and students in the community that their only pathway to success is through university. It’s time we break that stigma. The skilled trades open the door to a future with a six-figure salary – all without tuition debt,” said Patrice Barnes, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s Skills Development Fund has helped connect more than half a million jobseekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying and fulfilling careers close to home.
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Ontario Building More Capacity in Provincial Jails
The Ontario government is adding more beds to several adult correctional facilities, marking an important milestone in the province’s plan to ensure safety and sufficient jail capacity in both the short- and long-term.
“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is ensuring the sustainability of the correctional system,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “We’re expanding and building facilities that will help frontline staff to do their jobs safely and effectively while increasing capacity to keep violent and repeat offenders off our streets.”
In the short term, the government is repurposing and re-opening the Regional Intermittent Centre at Elgin-Middlesex Detention Centre in London and the Toronto Intermittent Centre at the Toronto South Detention Centre, adding up to 430 new beds by 2026 to accommodate minimum- and medium-risk inmates.
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The province is also increasing the number of beds over the longer term at the following correctional facilities:
- Adding 18 new beds at the Quinte Detention Centre bringing the institution’s capacity to over 300 beds.
- More than doubling capacity at the new Brockville Correctional Complex by adding 184 new beds.
Increasing jail capacity will be supported by the hiring of up to 200 additional correctional staff which could include nurses, correctional officers and support staff.
As part of the government’s plans to increase capacity, two new jails will be built in eastern Ontario: the Eastern Ontario Correctional Complex in Kemptville and the Brockville Correctional Complex. The St. Lawrence Valley Correctional and Treatment Centre will also be expanded to accommodate a women’s treatment unit and the Quinte Detention Centre will be expanded to add inmate programming and female capacity. These expansion initiatives build on the government’s $500 million investment to modernize adult correctional services through infrastructure upgrades and hiring of new staff.
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My constituency office is open Monday to Friday from 10AM to 4PM.
If you have any questions or concerns we’re readily available to assist you.
You can also reach us by phone at (416) 781-2395
or by email at robin.martin@pc.ola.org.
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Warmest Wishes,
 Robin Martin, MPP
Eglinton-Lawrence
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