Rae announces $1.3M to Train Municipal Equipment Operators

[Middlesex, ON] – Matthew Rae, MPP for Perth-Wellington was joined by Steve Pinsonneault, MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex to announce $1,335,810 to support the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors and their efforts to train the next generation of Municipal Equipment Operators. This funding is being provided through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) and brings Ontario’s total investment in skills development training through SDF to nearly $1.1 billion.

“This invest will ensure that our municipalities have the staff they require to keep our public infrastructure safe and operational,” MPP Rae said. “Our provincial government will continue to make these important invests to support both urban and rural municipalities in the training and retention of municipal equipment operators.”

The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is open to a wide range of applicants, including employers, industry associations, labour unions, municipalities, hospitals and many more. The funding announced today builds on the government’s mission to make Ontario the best place in the world to work, live and raise a family.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is proud to invest in programs that support training and upskilling,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “This project will give people the necessary skills needed to land in-demand and well-paying jobs in their communities and contribute to our province.”

“I’m proud to see the Ontario government investing in programs such as the Skills Development Fund,” MPP Pinsonneault said. “By providing access to valuable training, we are fostering a skilled workforce that is crucial for the growth and safety of our communities and province.”

“Municipalities are not immune to the labour shortages of skilled workers, and they are already starting to see the impacts in the public works departments,” said John Maheu, Executive Director of the Association of Ontario Road Supervisors. “Municipal equipment operators build and maintain the core infrastructure that our communities depend on every day, and having the support of the Ford government through the Skills Development Fund to develop and implement the Municipal Equipment Operator course is essential to the health and safety of communities across the Province.”

Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s Skills Development Fund has helped connect more than half a million jobseekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying and fulfilling careers close to home.

The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. Those interested in participating in the programs announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.