McGuinty Government Helps Women Newcomers Enter the Skilled Trades
Creating Opportunity For Women And New Canadians Through Pre-Apprenticeships
Women newcomers to Ontario are benefiting from an opportunity to develop new skills that will help them gain employment in the trades, Tony Ruprecht, MPP Davenport, said today.Ruprecht and Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities Chris Bentley visited the Working Women Community Centre, where a pre-apprenticeship training project run jointly with Carpenters Local 27 is providing training in the general carpenter trade to up to 15 women, all of whom are new Canadians.
The government is investing approximately $203,000 in the 24-week project, which will include Level 1 apprenticeship training, language and job search instruction and an eight-week job placement."
This project is an invaluable opportunity for immigrant women," said Marcie Ponte, executive director of the Working Women Community Centre. "They will gain hard skills and access to a job market that is often difficult for women to enter."
“We're enthusiastic about our new partnership with the Working Women Community Centre and the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities," said Cristina Selva, director of training for Carpenters Local 27 Joint Apprenticeship and Training Trust Fund Inc. "We'd like to thank the Toronto Training Board for facilitating the partnership, and the government of Ontario for recognizing the value of this unique program, which will help women newcomers to Ontario launch rewarding careers in general carpentry while helping address the skills shortage challenges currently facing our industry."
Pre-apprenticeship training helps people develop the technical, academic and employment skills they need to succeed in an apprenticeship for a skilled trade. In 2006-07, Ontario is investing almost $8.2 million in 42 new projects that will prepare people who want to become apprentices for training in specific skilled trades.
In addition, the Ontario Women’s Directorate funds the Women in Skilled Trades initiative, which has provided $4.6 million since 2003 to help hundreds of low-income women develop new skills in the skilled trades, find employment and achieve economic independence.
“Our government has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to investing in skills, learning and people to create the best workforce in North America,” Bentley said. “And one of our highest priorities is helping newcomers succeed in Ontario’s labour market.”