Ontario Launches Free Job Training for Newcomers

New projects will help more than 300 people find meaningful work in their communities

July 11, 2023

OTTAWA — The Ontario government is investing $2.6 million in four free training projects to help more than 300 newcomers, including displaced Afghans and Ukrainians, find meaningful jobs with local employers. Ontario welcomes more immigrants than any other province each year, and research has shown that helping internationally-trained newcomers work in the professions they studied for could increase Ontario’s GDP by up to $100 billion over the next five years.

“The Canadian dream is alive and well in Ontario, and we need all hands on deck to build it,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our province was the first in Canada to ban discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements so newcomers can work in the fields they’ve studied for. Our government will continue our mission to spread good jobs and opportunity to every corner of the province. Working together, we are building a stronger Ontario that leaves no one behind.”

Led by Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto, Matthew House Ottawa, Toronto Artscape, and UTIMUS, the programs announced today will prepare jobseekers for well-paying careers in manufacturing, finance, administration, communications, hospitality and the arts. Participants will have the chance to explore a range of employment and training options through paid internships, job placements, language training and digital literacy courses.

“Ontario will always welcome newcomers from all corners of the globe,” said Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “Under the leadership of Premier Ford and Minister McNaughton, this $2.6 million investment will help newcomers, including displaced Afghans and Ukrainians, access free job training and resources to find meaningful work in well-paying industries and in the fields they studied in. This will help them reach their full potential and build a solid foundation for themselves and their families as they begin their new chapter in Ontario.”

Jobseekers will also have access to help with resume writing, improving interview skills, and other tailored support to help them find and retain long-term employment. Training – including for Afghan and Ukrainian arrivals – will be delivered in Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton and online and will match participants’ skills with the needs of businesses hiring in their communities.

The projects are funded through the government’s Skills Development Fund, an over $700 million initiative, which supports ground-breaking programs that connect jobseekers with the skills and training they need to find well-paying careers close to home. For more information on how to register, contact one of the participating organizations.