Windsor, ON — Ontario expects to train an additional 12,000 apprentices through its in-class enhancement fund (IEF). This is expected to create up to 4,000 new training seats each year.
“We need to keep building, no matter what global challenges come our way, to deliver on our $200 billion plan to build more infrastructure like highways, hospitals and schools,” said David Piccini, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development. “By expanding access to in-class training and removing barriers, we’re helping more apprentices gain the skills they need for good-paying jobs, while protecting them in the face of U.S. tariffs.”
According to the province, this is part of a broader strategy to address the need for skilled trades. In addition, the provincial government is working with Skilled Trades Ontario to expand testing, allowing apprentices to book a certificate of qualification exam at a closer facility.
“This investment is exactly what Ontario’s skilled trades workforce needs right now,” said Marc Arsenault, business manager and secretary-treasurer at the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario. “Expanding in-class training capacity means more apprentices can start and finish their programs on time, with fewer financial and logistical barriers. It’s a smart, practical step that ensures major infrastructure projects are built by a well-trained, local workforce. Our members are ready to build Ontario’s future, and this kind of support helps get them on the tools faster and safer.”
Between 2024 and 2025, the new apprenticeship registrations in Ontario increased by over 7.3 per cent, the highest in a decade. Within the new registrations, 16,412 were aged 15 to 24. Additionally, Ontario expects that one in eight job openings will be related to skilled trades by 2029.
The IEF was first announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario and received $159.3 million in funding to strengthen skilled trades programs.