(Photo: © Eastman Arts / Adobe Stock)
The Ontario government has announced plans to provide $75 million to train up to 7,800 additional students at colleges, universities and Indigenous Institutes across the province for in-demand jobs in construction and urban planning. The province says the spend will strengthen the province’s pipeline of highly skilled construction workers that are needed to fulfill the government’s plans to build more homes, highways, hospitals and other critical infrastructure.
“Our government has bold plans to build the Ontario of tomorrow, and it is critical that we have the homegrown, highly skilled workers to get it done,” said Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges, Universities, Research Excellence and Security. “From designing roadways to building homes, this investment will ensure our students have the training they need to launch rewarding, in-demand careers that protect and strengthen Ontario’s future in the face of economic uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs.”
The funding will support up to 7,500 new seats at colleges and Indigenous Institutes for construction programs such as welding, carpentry and renovation techniques, as well as up to 300 new seats for graduate students at universities to train urban and land use planners across the province by 2028.
“This funding will give thousands of students, from future electricians, welders, carpenters and renovation specialists to tomorrow’s urban and land use planners, the skills they need to build the homes, highways, hospitals and community infrastructure our province depends on,” said John Wabb, national executive board chairperson at the Canadian Union of Skilled Workers. “By supporting both the skilled trades and the planning professions, Ontario is strengthening its workforce, creating good-paying careers, and ensuring our communities can grow and thrive for generations to come.”
Colleges receiving funding to expand enrollment in the construction programs include Cambrian College, Confederation College, Collège Boréal, La Cité, Centennial College, Durham College, George Brown College, Humber Polytechnic, Conestoga College, Fleming College, Georgian College, Niagara College and Fanshawe College, as well as Kenjgewin Teg, an Indigenous Institute. Some of these schools will be able to apply the new funding starting as early as September of this year.
Universities receiving funding to expand enrollment in their graduate level planning programs include Queen’s University, Toronto Metropolitan University, University of Guelph, York University and University of Waterloo.
“Investments like this strengthen Durham College’s ability to transform lives by preparing career-ready graduates who will help meet Ontario’s housing and infrastructure needs,” said Elaine Popp, president of Durham College. “Through future-focused training in skilled trades and construction, we equip them with the skills and experience to thrive—building sustainable, connected communities and shaping the province’s future.”
“The next three years will be critical for Ontario’s construction industry as more critical infrastructure projects exit the planning phase and enter active construction than ever before,” stated Kinga Surma, Ontario’s Minister of Infrastructure. “This bold investment will ensure Ontario’s construction skilled trades industry is expanded and well-equipped to train the future workforce that will build the subways, highways, long-term care, schools and water infrastructure our province needs for the future.”
Ontario postsecondary institutions offer about 240 construction-related techniques and technician programs. The province also has six universities that offer accredited graduate-level planning programs.
