The Ontario government is investing ten million dollars to boost skills training at the shipbuilding and repair company Ontario Shipyards.
Premier Doug Ford spoke at Ontario Shipyards – formally Heddle Shipyards – with Minister David Piccini Wednesday afternoon to announce the funding of training programs at St. Catharines, Hamilton and Thunder Bay locations, with each shipyard having around 250 employees.
The funding is part of the government’s $1.4 billion investment through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to improve Ontario’s workforce and productivity.
Last year the provincial government provided Ontario Shipyards $3.7 million for training and upgrades in Hamilton and Port Weller.
The Premier said that his party is dedicated to create tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs and to invest in Ontario’s shipping industry locally and across the province.
“Our government is always going to be here to support the hard-working people of Niagara region,” he said.
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The announcement happened before negotiations broke down with Canada’s major railways, and labour disruption began after midnight into Thursday.
Ford spoke at the Ontario Shipyards ahead of the potential strike, “I encourage all parties to do whatever they can to avoid a costly strike.”
“What I don’t agree with is threatening the lockout workers… we need everyone to treat every other with respect and be laser-focused to getting the deal done,” he said.