Ontario investing $3 million to train auto workers

In the face of American tariffs, the provincial government is investing up to $3 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream to train automotive workers.

The funding “will help us continue to protect workers at a critical time for our province,” says 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.”

The funding will support three Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada) projects that will equip automotive tradespeople in Ontario with the skills required to diagnose and repair modern vehicles.

The Electric Vehicle (EV), Hybrid and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Technologies training program is preparing technicians 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 government reports.

Finally, the Plug’n Drive Training Session will give participants from those two programs a training session on non-technical matters and consumer information to better understand the expectations and needs of EV owners.

Previous investments in AIA Canada have prepared more than 250 people for careers in the automotive trades sector. The recent SDF Training Stream project (Round 4) is currently supporting more than 200 additional workers. “AIA Canada is proud to continue our partnership with the Government of Ontario through Round 5 of the SDF,” says AIA Canada President and CEO Jean-François Champagne.

“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 EVs. 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.”

Ontario’s auto sector directly supports close to 95,000 workers and hundreds of thousands of indirect jobs throughout the broader automotive supply chain, the government reports.