Premier Doug Ford announces $9M to train Windsor construction and auto workers

The Ontario government is providing more than $9 million to train approximately 2,300 manufacturing and construction workers in Windsor, Ont. 

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement on Monday at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 773.

The funding comprises:

• Approximately $5.5 million to IBEW 773 to build a new Windsor training centre and to train more than 600 new electrical workers. 

• $3 million to the Ontario Vehicle Innovation Network (OVIN) to develop local training programs to train approximately 1,500 auto sector workers in Windsor and across the province, with a focus on electric vehicle and battery development.

• Approximately $500,000 to the International Association of Bridge and Ironworkers Local 700 to train and upskill at least 170 new ironworkers and apprentices.

How Doug Ford's government plans to get people in Windsor working

2 months ago

Duration 2:10

When asked what advice he has for people in the city with the highest unemployment rate in Canada looking for a job, Premier Doug Ford said they should get a skilled trade. Here's the plan to get people trained.

"What this government's doing is foundational change, not just reacting to the circumstances of the day and trying to bribe companies to come here," said Windsor Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie, speaking at the premier's announcement Monday afternoon at IBEW Local 773.

"We're doing the hard work necessary to instill skills and values here among our workers."

The IBEW training facility will provide the union with more than 2,200 square metres of space, according to IBEW 773 Business Manager Karl Lovett.

That's more than double the approximately 900 square metres it has at its current facility.

"This year, we took in 36 apprentices, and the reason we only took in 36 apprentices is because we don't have the facility to be able to train these people," Lovett said.

"So how it will help us is we had over 450 applications [from] young men and women that wanted to be [in] an apprenticeship program, and we don't have the capacity to take care of them."

Windsor is growing, Lovett said.

The mega hospital on County Road 42 will take approximately 350 electricians and apprentices four years to finish, he said. 

And the skills are transferable, so any surplus workers in the Windsor area will be qualified to work on other projects, such as the Volkswagen battery plant in St. Thomas. 

"If next year they project I need 30 people, I'm going to take in 60 people because, as work winds down in this jurisdiction, we're going to the next jurisdiction," Lovett said. 

He also praised the government for being proactive in addressing the need for more skilled tradespeople. 

The new training facility should be open by the end of next summer, he said.

CBC News asked Ford what he'd say to people who are unemployed today in Windsor, knowing that the projected job growth in the region has yet to materialize.

He replied, "I always say the people that go into the skilled trades, they have a job for life. ... And at one time they might be able to go out and open their own company. But I encourage [them], make sure you never forget your roots. If you came from a trade union, you'd better support and hire trade union people."

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens called the funding commitment "amazing" and said it will help the city to be successful for a long time to come.