Ontario invests $90M in employment programs for marginalized residents
The Ontario government announced a third round of funding set aside for the provincial Skills and Development Fund (SDF) Monday in an effort to alleviate the provincial labour shortage.
In a press conference in Hamilton Monday morning, Ontario’s Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton announced an investment of $90M into programs across the province assisting unemployed and underemployed residents find work.
Monday's investment is in addition to the $15.8M laid out for the SDF in Ontario’s 2022-23 provincial budget.
This round of funding will prioritize programs “helping people with prior involvement in the criminal justice system, at-risk youth, those with disabilities, Indigenous people, Ukrainian newcomers, and others facing barriers to employment,” the ministry said.
Speaking to CTV Toronto Monday, McNaughton said this round of funding will attempt to bolster the provincial workforce, while also “really giving people a second chance.”
“Today in Ontario, almost 400,000 jobs are going unfilled, and it's right across all sectors,” McNaughton said. “And across Canada today, there's 4 million people who have a criminal record, which reduces the chance of a second interview by at least 50 per cent.”
“There's a real focus on helping people out, giving them a second chance and getting them into purpose driven careers.”
Programs eligible to receive funding include employment service and training providers; labour, community, business and industry organizations; municipalities; hospitals; Indigenous Band offices; Indigenous skills and employment training agreement holders; and service system managers.
The ministry says eligible programs can begin to apply for funding starting Sept. 29. Applications will remain open until Jan. 31, 2023.
Interested programs or organizations can apply through Transfer Payment Ontario.
The unemployment rate in Ontario rose 0.4 percentage points in August to about 5.7 per cent, according to Statistics Canada.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for "all parties" to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Taylor Swift drops 15 new songs on double album, 'The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology'
On Friday, the pop star released her 11th album and at 2 a.m. Eastern, she released "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology," featuring 15 additional songs.
Israel gave U.S. last-minute warning about drone attack on Iran, Italian foreign minister says at G7
The United States told the Group of Seven foreign ministers on Friday that it received 'last minute' information from Israel about a drone action in Iran, but didn't participate in the apparent attack, officials said.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.