Toronto, Ontario — With the unceremonious send-off of the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) two months in the past, the provincial government has announced that the new Skilled Trades Ontario agency has officially launched.
The Ontario government is viewing this new institution as a step toward better aligning the province with a model that addresses the ever-increasing demand for skilled trades workers.
Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Monte McNaughton said “We’re redrawing the system to address Ontario’s labour shortage and make the trades a career of choice for more people.”
The site is intended to serve as a one-stop-shop for individuals considering a career in the trades, allowing them to search for and enroll in trades programs, as well as for those already working in the field, offering both the ability to schedule classes, submit forms, pay fees and much more.
“The creation of Skilled Trades Ontario is an important milestone, and one I am thrilled to be a part of leading,” said Michael Sherrard, chair of Skilled Trades Ontario.
“The implementation of a successful apprenticeship and skilled trades system is critical to the economic growth and success of our province, and today’s announcement is the next step in securing that future for us all.”
The government’s current estimate of the skilled trades shortage is that 350,000 new employees will be required by 2025.
The closure of the OCOT led to layoff notices being issued to 30 inspectors employed with the province.
When faced with criticism surrounding the lack of enforcement for skilled trades credentials in July, the Ford government was quick to point to a failure within the college, since claiming that apprentice registrations fell 40 percent under OCOT.
