The Value and Impact of the Skills Development Funding Grant Program in Ontario
Since the inception of Ontario’s Skills Development Funding (SDF) Grant Program, UBC Millwright Local 2309 Toronto has been a proud and active participant, recognizing early on the program’s potential to enhance both training and workforce development across our trade. These grants allow Local unions to make strategic investments in essential equipment, investments that would have otherwise been financially unattainable for individual Locals.
Through this support from the provincial government, the Local 2309 training department has been able to procure a range of critical assets, including an 8-ton Broderson, Genie lifts, a Versa-Lift, and an array of machine shop equipment earmarked for the Port Hope Training Centre. Each of these acquisitions directly contributes to the ability to provide state-of-the-art, hands-on training to apprentices and journeypersons, ensuring that union millwrights remain at the forefront of technical excellence and safety in the field.
Beyond tooling assistance, the SDF program also encompasses a capital grant funding component, which offers transformative opportunities for training infrastructure development. Local 2309 has recently applied for such funding and have been approved for a capital grant that will represent 49 percent of the total cost associated with the construction of the new Local 2309 Training Centre, a facility designed to meet the current and future needs of our membership. This approval stands as proof to the strength and credibility of the proposal, the confidence placed in the Local’s training vision, and the support of the Ontario government for the skilled trades and future workforce development.
The realization of a training centre of this magnitude would be nearly impossible without the assistance provided through the SDF program. The scale, sophistication, and capacity of the facility that is planned would far exceed what could be achieved through local resources alone. The program has played a major role not only in enabling the project but also in ensuring that union millwrights have continued access to modern, high-quality training opportunities that align with the evolving demands of our industry.
“The Skills Development Funding program is delivering exactly what strong workforce policy should deliver; advanced training, modern facilities, and a highly skilled workforce that is ready to meet industry demand.” -Mark Beardsworth, Executive Secretary-Treasurer Millwright Regional Council. “Through the partnership between the Ontario government, our Local unions, and union contractors, we are building long-term training capacity that strengthens our members, supports employers, and ensures Ontario continues to develop the skilled trades workforce needed for the projects that drive our economy.”
The SDF program has strengthened Local 2309, enhanced our training capabilities, and positioned our membership to meet the challenges of a rapidly changing construction landscape. It has fostered a culture of continual learning, innovation, and excellence and these are principles that are central to both our mission and the long-term prosperity of the industry.
The Skills Development Funding Grant Program remains a valued part of Ontario’s training and development strategy. It represents a vital partnership between the Provincial Government, UBC Millwright Local 2309 Toronto, and the Millwright Regional Council (MRC), a partnership that delivers real, lasting benefits to workers, employers, and communities alike.
About the Millwright Regional Council
The Millwright Regional Council (MRC) is composed of twelve affiliated Local Unions of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America (UBC) across Canada. The UBC Millwrights are vital partners in diverse industries such as energy, automotive, aerospace, food processing, and pharmaceuticals. ubcmillwrights.ca
For media inquiries, please contact:
Andrew Bredin
Director of Communications
Millwright Regional Council
416-757-5161
abredin@ubcmillwrights.ca
The views expressed in this publication are the views of the Millwright Regional Council and do not necessarily reflect those of the Province and the Government of Ontario and it’s agencies are no way bound by any recommendations contained in this publication.
