Ontario Announces Proposed Changes to Accelerate Skills Training Centres
The Ontario government announced on May 26 that it will introduce proposed changes to accelerate the construction of Skills Development Fund (SDF) training centres. The statement was made by David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, who said the measures are intended to support workers affected by U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.
The proposed changes are relevant to residents impacted by layoffs or disruptions related to tariffs, as they aim to provide more timely access to skills training. The government outlined several details about how the proposals would affect workers, training pathways, and the application process for related programs.
According to the government, the suggested legislative and regulatory amendments would exempt SDF Capital Stream construction projects from certain permit and approval requirements connected to land use planning. Requirements related to health and safety, including those under the Ontario Building Code and the Fire Protection and Prevention Act, 1997, would still apply. The government said these exemptions would help reduce construction delays and allow new training centres to open sooner.
Additional proposals described in the provincial announcement include requiring job posting platforms to introduce ways for users to report fraudulent job advertisements. The government stated this is meant to help prevent exploitation of job seekers. Furthermore, the government is proposing the removal of certain barriers for construction projects that use Chief Prevention Officer-accredited health and safety management systems during the procurement process, which is intended to speed up project completion.
The statement also outlined plans to update the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program. Employer applicants would be able to submit applications directly and electronically through a new portal scheduled to launch in summer 2025.
These proposals are part of a broader legislative package that, according to the government, builds on previous Working for Workers Acts introduced since 2021. Further details on the package are expected to be announced in the coming days.
According to the provincial government, the SDF Capital Stream is funded by Ontario, while the Skills Development Fund Training Stream, training and support centres, and Employment Ontario are supported through labour market transfer agreements between the federal and provincial governments.
The SDF Capital Stream offers two application pathways. The SEED pathway provides funding for developing capital plans for training facilities, and the GROW pathway supports construction and upgrading of training infrastructure. The government stated that applications for these programs are currently being accepted.