Ontario Investing $3 Million to Train Automotive Workers

Skills Development Fund investment will support Ontario’s automotive industry in the face of President Trump’s tariffs

TORONTO — The Ontario government is protecting Ontario workers and jobs by investing up to $3 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream to train workers in the automative trades. The investment in the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) will support better jobs and bigger paycheques in the automotive trades sector across the province while defending Ontario’s economy in the face of U.S tariffs.

“Ontario’s automotive sector is second to none and it depends on the hardworking workers who make it possible,” said Premier Doug Ford. “We’re investing to support workers and new careers in this critical industry in the face of tariffs from President Trump, just like we’re standing up for workers across the province, no matter what.”

Today’s investment will support three AIA Canada projects that will equip automotive tradespeople in Ontario with the skills required to diagnose and repair modern vehicles, keeping Ontario’s cars on the road safely and reliably, including:

  • The Electric Vehicle (EV), Hybrid, and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) Technologies training program is preparing technicians across Ontario to provide maintenance and repair service to the wide variety of cars now coming into their shops.
  • The Exploration of the Automotive Trades Training Program will attract jobseekers to a career in the automotive trades. Upon completion, program participants are well positioned to find an employer sponsor to pursue an apprenticeship.
  • The Plug’n Drive Training Session will give participants from both programs mentioned above a training session on non-technical matters and consumer information to better understand the expectations and needs of EV owners.

This funding builds on the successes of previous SDF Training Stream investments to AIA Canada and will expand the total number of opportunities for new and current tradespeople to 450 and help them gain new skills in the automotive sector.

“Our government has made historic investments in our workforce and this funding will help us continue to protect workers at a critical time for our province,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “We will do everything we can to defend against economic threats while reinforcing long-term economic productivity and good-paying jobs. By prioritizing investments in training, we are standing up for Ontario’s workers, their families, businesses and communities.”

Ontario’s SDF Training Stream has been a landmark tool to support the growth of in-demand industries like the automotive sector. It will also continue to support workers and businesses facing pressures from U.S. tariffs, including manufacturing, construction, critical mineral extraction and other skilled trades.

“Today’s investment through the Skills Development Fund is a prime example of the actions our government is taking to protect Ontario jobs and workers across priority industries, including our automotive industry,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development Job Creation and Trade. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, we will continue to stand up for Ontario auto workers and make sure they have the skills and training they need to succeed.”

The Ontario government is currently supporting the training of more than 600,000 local workers for in-demand careers in every corner of the province and has invested more than $1.5 billion to date through the SDF Training and Capital Streams. As Ontario continues to grow, continued investment in the Skills Development Fund will help ensure skilled workers are trained and ready to enter rewarding careers in priority sectors across the province.

QUICK FACTS

  • Previous investments in AIA Canada have prepared more than 250 people for rewarding careers in the automotive trades sector. Their recent SDF Training Stream project (Round 4) is also currently supporting more than 200 additional workers.
  • Ontario’s auto sector directly supports close to 95,000 workers and hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs throughout the broader automotive supply chain. Investing in auto sector workers by equipping them with the skills they need to secure rewarding, high-paying jobs in EV battery and steel production, auto assembly, research and innovation and repair is part of the government’s Driving Prosperity Plan.
  • The SDF Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

QUOTES

“AIA Canada is proud to continue our partnership with the Government of Ontario through Round 5 of the Skills Development Fund. This investment supports both attracting new talent to the auto care sector through our career exploration program and upskilling current automotive tradespeople to service modern vehicles, including electric vehicles. By expanding the Innovation in Automotive Training program to new regions, we are strengthening Ontario’s workforce, ensuring the industry has the skilled professionals needed for today and the future.”
— Jean-François Champagne, President and CEO, Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada)

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