Ontario is set to disburse an additional $160 million toward skills training programs to help people on social assistance and people who have criminal records.
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton is expected to announce the fourth round of funding through the Skills Development Fund soon.
The Minister says the disbursement aims to give at least 100,000 people free training in health care, auto manufacturing, IT, hospitality and skilled trades.
The announcement will bring the total for Skills Development Fund training to above $860 million, with 596 projects in many sectors backed so far.
McNaughton says no fewer than one million people in Ontario have a criminal record, with the majority for non-violent and petty crimes, and 50 percent of them are on social assistance even after 15 years of being released.
According to him, around 40 percent of people with a criminal record cannot get a second interview when hunting for job, as such, he urged organizations to submit proposals to help them get meaningful work while also tackling labour shortages.
During a recent interview, he said: “This is something that we’ve really been promoting and encouraging businesses to step up.
“I just think there’s a huge opportunity. These workers become very loyal to the employer that gives them a chance and there’s a huge opportunity to lift these people up.”
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