Province providing $600,000 for three programs

The province is providing $600,000 to help train North Bay workers as machine operators, general carpenters, electricians, and personal support workers.

On Feb. 3, the province announced the funding, from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, would go to programming administered by Canadore College and other partners.

“It is wonderful that the government works in partnership with the colleges to provide pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship training,” Canadore president George Burton said in a news release.

“We know that there is a shortage of skilled labour in the province of Ontario, and our joint efforts will close this gap, as we continue to invest in students and infrastructure.”

The funding will support:

16 pre-apprenticeship trainees for general carpenter and electrical trades at Canadore College;

17 machine operator trainees for the local manufacturing sector through an Ontario SkillsAdvance Partnership between Canadore College, Yes Employment Services Inc. and eight local employers; and

30 personal support workers for the local health-care sector through an Ontario SkillsAdvance Partnership between Canadore College, District of Nipissing Social Services Administration Board and local employers.

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"These funds will help people in this city and region – including young people, Indigenous people and women – find careers in industries where they are badly needed," Labour Minister Monte McNaughton said in the release.

The government announced the funding following the recent rollout of its marketing campaign designed to showcase the skilled trades as a viable career path.