The announcement was made today by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, and Lisa MacLeod, Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries and MPP for Nepean, at the Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre.
The funding is being distributed as follows:
- Ottawa Chinese Community Service Centre is receiving $499,254 for an employer-led IT training project that will help up to 400 workers rapidly upgrade their skills and prepare them for high-demand jobs;
- Lighthouse Labs is receiving $456,646 to train up to 60 newcomer women in technical IT skills;
- Information and Communications Technology Council is receiving $497,155 to train 25 jobseekers in financial technology skills, followed by a work placement;
- Carleton University is receiving $466,302 to create accessibility videos and materials for employers and employees to support the employability of post-secondary students with disabilities; and
- Le Collège La Cité is receiving $313,951 to train up to 120 francophones in IT.
“Our government is committed to helping Ontarians gain in-demand training so they can be ready for future employers,” said McNaughton. “This investment will help our communities in Ottawa, and we are excited to partner with local organizations to address unique economic challenges while helping people find work.”
Online job postings in the region show that software engineers and designers, and information system analysts are two of the top four in-demand workers. These projects encourage synergies between industry, education and training providers to drive innovation, help employers find skilled workers, and help job seekers find well-paid careers.
“These investments will create and provide the people of Ottawa with over 600 job opportunities,” said MacLeod. “Continuing to train and upgrade skills will be essential to advancing the Ottawa community, as we develop to meet the changing needs of our communities.”
“Thanks to the generous support of the Ontario Government and Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development, the GO4IT project will be able to provide upskills training to over 120 employers to help fill their skills shortage, improve their competitiveness, innovation and productivity, and allow 400 trainees to retain and find jobs in the growing digital economy,” said Ying Xie, Senior Manager, In-TAC.
