Helping people with criminal records transition to finding a job is part of Ontario's Skills Development Fund. PHOTO by Pexels.
The Ontario government is investing $12 million to help people with criminal records find employment in several industries, including manufacturing.
There are nine projects to be funded by the money and they could help prepare up to 2,000 job-seekers for careers in manufacturing as well as other industries such as construction. Specifically, the funding will help 200 people work in the skilled trades in communities in the Toronto area. The programs are set to give apprenticeship and technical training, on-the-job learning, and interview skills.
The initiative is part of Ontario’s $700 million Skills Development Fund, which supports training and skills development in the province.
There are more than one million people in the province with a criminal record, which limits their opportunities to find employment and be able to support themselves and contribute to society. However, with the province experiencing such a shortage of labour, skilled labour in particular, it’s critical to engage all available parts of the labour pool.
