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Hamilton Spectator -- Ontario is pumping another $4.5 million into trades-training efforts in Hamilton and area.
Local MPP and Minister of Housing Ted McMeekin was at Mohawk College's Stoney Creek campus Friday morning to announce the latest grants to the college and several training agencies.
"I'm thrilled that our government is making this major investment to ensure that our apprentices receive the highest standard of training," he said in a government news release. "The improved equipment and training programs will give apprentices the hands-on experience they need to thrive in the skilled trades, and contribute to the local economy."
The grants come from the province'sApprenticeship Enhancement Fund andPre-Apprenticeship Training programs. These contain a total of $36 million to finance 47 new capital projects at colleges and other training organizations and to support 84 pre-apprenticeship training programs to help more than 1,500 people traditionally under-represented in skilled trades such as women, Indigenous people and at-risk youth.
Mohawk College gets money for new simulation technology to train plumbers and to help introduce unemployed and underemployed youth, women and aboriginal people to the refrigeration and air conditioning, automotive, plumbing and steamfitting trades.
The John Howard Society of Hamilton, Burlington and Area will introduce federally sentenced adults to the welding and metal fabrication trades while the Career Foundation, along with Mohawk and the Carpenters Union Local 18, will introduce youth to the carpentry and construction trades.
Collège Boréal will introduce Francophone women and newcomers to the child development and educational assistant trades while the YWCA Hamilton partners with Mohawk College to introduce women to the machinist and millwright trades.
Ironworkers Local 736 in Ancaster will receive funding for a new classroom and computer lab for construction trade apprentices, including audiovisual equipment and iPad stations.
"Our industry partners are counting on Mohawk to train the next generation of skilled tradespeople. Thanks to the continued support of the Government of Ontario, our faculty and staff deliver hands-on training to more than 4,000 apprentices every year," said Mohawk College's president, Ron McKerlie. "Apprentices at Mohawk learn from the best, train on the newest equipment and use the latest technology in labs that are among the best of any college in the country."
