October 15, 2020 – The Ontario government says it is making the skilled trades more accessible by investing an additional $75 million over the next two years, adding this investment will also help apprentices cover living expenses during their in-class training.

The $75-million investment includes…

• The Grant for Apprentice Learning: a $5.8-million commitment to support those ineligible for Employment Insurance (EI) while attending in-class training, including a boost of $1.3 million this year and next.

• The Apprentice Development Benefit: a $24-million commitment to increase the maximum benefit rates for EI-eligible apprentices attending full-time in-class training, including a boost of $4 million this year and next.

• The In-Class Enhancement Fund: a $211.9-million commitment to support training providers so they can “deliver higher-quality training”, including a boost of $11.8 million this year and $22.3 million next.

• The Apprenticeship Capital Grant: a $24-million commitment to training providers to upgrade their facilities with state-of-the-art equipment, including an additional $10 million next year.

• $5.1 million for training delivery agents, and an additional $500,000 for pre-apprenticeship training service providers, to assist them with implementing Covid-19 health & safety measures during the pandemic (e.g. PPE, cleaning products).

• $4.7 million as part of a multi-year $19.4-million investment in the development of a client-facing digital system to support the skilled trades and apprenticeship system in Ontario. The portal will provide skilled trades and apprenticeship clients with secure and convenient access to online information and services and will bring Ontario in line with digital delivery channels in other provinces.

• $2.5 million this year and $7.5 million next to launch the non-repayable Tools Grant.