NEWS RELEASE
ANDREA KHANJIN, MPP BARRIE-INNISFIL
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The Ontario government is investing $7.7 million in language and skills training supports to help 2,700 newcomers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic start new jobs. Through 19 programs across Ontario, newcomers will gain the skills they need to work in food manufacturing, healthcare, web development, and other in-demand sectors while supporting Ontario’s economic recovery and future prosperity.
Details were provided in June by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development and Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook.
"As someone who immigrated to Canada, I understand the importance of providing equal opportunity to everyone, including our newcomers,” said MPP Andrea Khanjin. “This investment will help our local community businesses and newcomers alike by giving them the tools to succeed in the workforce.”
“The skills that newcomers bring to Ontario play a crucial role in driving our economy forward,” said Minister McNaughton. “Our job is to connect the dots and ensure newcomers have the support they need to pursue the in-demand and fulfilling careers available in their new home and provide for their families. These training investments will go a long way to strengthening our economy and local communities.”
As part of Ontario’s commitment to supporting newcomers, YMCA Hamilton/Burlington/Brantford will receive $250,000 to provide free job-focused language training to 80 newcomers interested in, or currently employed in the food manufacturing sector. Starting in fall 2021, the project will include a mix of in-person and online training where participants will learn sector-specific language skills, workplace health and safety and gain an awareness of Canadian workplace culture to start careers and succeed in the industry. The program is being delivered in partnership with Mohawk College and Food and Beverage Ontario.
New immigrants were among the hardest hit by COVID with over 34,000 losing their jobs. Through these programs across our province, the government is focused on ensuring new immigrants get the support they need.
“I am so pleased that this investment will target newcomers in Hamilton who are working in or interested in employment in the food manufacturing sector,” said Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook. “When immigrants are given the opportunity to enhance their language skills, it not only benefits them, it also benefits the local economy.”
The projects included in the funding are:
- The Evaluate, Elevate and Excel – 3Es (TripleEase) in-person workshop through the South Asian Canadians Health and Social Services, offered in Toronto, Peel, Halton, Hamilton, Durham, and Ottawa in the summer and autumn of 2021.
- For more information, please visit here
- The Building Skills for Work: A post-pandemic “She-Covery” workshop through the Mennonite New Life Centre of Toronto. Participants will be able to choose between in-person classes, live online instruction or self-guided online learning with various start dates
- For more information, please visit here
- The Succeeding at Work Language Stream program, which offers 10 courses in Tagalog or Filipino, Spanish, French, Chinese, Ukrainian and Punjabi, offered through Food Processing Skills Canada. Courses will be delivered online to 300 newcomers employed in the food manufacturing sector.
- For more information, please visit here
- Lighthouse Labs will help 250 women, including newcomers in Toronto and Ottawa, gain the skills they need to pursue a career in web development. Through this online program, all participants will receive an industry recognized web development diploma.
- For more information, please visit here
- Immigrants Working Centre will provide newcomers with skills training, employment services and certification needed to gain work as a PSW in the healthcare sector. Support will also be available to cover the cost of things like transportation, equipment or childcare if these are a barrier to participation.
- For more information, please visit here
- Job specific language and skills training will also be offered through 14 different organizations.
For more information on these programs, please visit here.
Quick facts
- New immigrants were among the hardest hit by COVID with an employment loss of 12 per cent among recent immigrants compared to only 4 per cent for the Canadian-born population.
- The $115 million Skills Development Fund offers funding to organizations for innovative projects that address challenges to hiring, training or retaining workers, including apprentices, during the pandemic.
- Ontario’s Workforce Development Agreement, Skills Development Fund and SkillsAdvance Ontario are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.
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