The Ontario government plans to remove regulatory barriers that slow construction of skills training facilities as the province prepares workers for potential job disruptions from U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.
The proposed changes would exempt training centres funded through the Skills Development Fund Capital Stream from certain land use planning permits and approval requirements while maintaining health and safety standards under the Ontario Building Code and Fire Protection and Prevention Act.
“Ontario workers are counting on us to have their backs by helping them access the skills training they need to stay on the job, despite the impact of U.S. tariffs,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
The government is investing $2.5 billion in the Skills Development Fund to support worker training and development across the province.
Additional worker protection measures
The proposed package includes several other measures aimed at protecting workers in the current economic climate:
Job posting platforms would be required to have systems for reporting fraudulent job advertisements to prevent worker exploitation during job searches.
Construction projects would see reduced barriers when implementing Chief Prevention Officer-accredited health and safety management systems as part of procurement processes, which officials say will increase competition and speed up project timelines.
The Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program will allow employer applicants to submit applications directly through a new electronic portal launching in summer 2025.
Industry support for changes
Construction industry leaders welcomed the proposed regulatory changes, particularly around training facility construction and health and safety requirements.
“In today’s economy, the ability to build and expand union training centres without unnecessary hurdles is essential,” said Adam MacGillivray, Business Manager of Iron Workers Local 759. “Streamlining the process will help us get shovels in the ground faster and deliver results where they’re needed.”
Andrew Tarr, Business Manager of HVAC&R Workers of Ontario UA Local 787, said the changes would help training partners “get shovels in the ground more easily, faster, on time and on budget.”
The Ontario Road Builders Association supported recognition of ISO 45001 and COR 2020 standards as equivalent for public procurement purposes.
“Our members are dedicated to the highest standards of health and safety, and addressing equivalency recognition will help reduce unnecessary duplication while ensuring robust oversight,” said Steven Crombie, Senior Director of Public Affairs for the association.
Skills Development Fund details
The Skills Development Fund operates through two streams. The Training Stream provides support for training programs and employment services through federal-provincial labour market agreements. The Capital Stream, funded exclusively by Ontario, supports construction and renovation of training facilities.
The Capital Stream includes two pathways: a new SEED pathway that helps fund development of capital plans for training facilities, and the existing GROW pathway that supports projects to build, upgrade and expand training infrastructure.
Applications are currently being accepted for the Capital Stream to help build new training centres and renovate existing facilities.
The proposed changes are part of a larger package that builds on six previous Working for Workers Acts introduced since 2021. The government says the measures aim to protect workers and the economy long-term while creating safer workplaces and fighting worker abuse.
