The Ontario government is injecting more than $13 million into electrician training in an effort to steer more apprentices and journeypersons to construction, maintenance and network cabling jobs. Funds have been pledged to the Ontario Electrical Industry Training Trust Fund, the National Electrical Trade Council and four Ontario locals of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) to sponsor classroom-based, online and jobsite programs for both entry-level and upskilling training candidates.

Approximately half of the new funding will be deployed through the Ontario Electrical Industry Training Trust Fund in an effort to boost registration in the network cabling training track, reach out to underrepresented groups and urge employers to hire apprentice electricians. Another $4.2 million is earmarked for two programs sponsored by the National Electrical Trade Council to provide specialized hands-on training on electrical vehicle charging stations and new options for immersive virtual reality training for apprenticeships and journeypersons.

The remaining $2.6 million will go to IBEW locals in Thunder Bay, Sudbury, Hamilton and London for a range of programs targeting upwards of 1,000 trainees. Of note, Local 120 in London has received approximately $1.2 million to train members of the Chippewas of the Thames and Munsee-Delaware First Nations. Program participants will receive a $120 daily stipend and at least 25 are promised post-training employment.

Local 1687 in Sudbury has received $467,500 to underwrite free online training for 625 registered apprentices in remote northern regions, including First Nations communities. Local 105 in Hamilton will use its $303,000 allocation to sponsor 40 electricians in a 12-week welding recruitment and retention program.