Immigration Announcement
Ontario Commits $3.9 Million to Train Women for Skilled Trades Careers
Ontario is putting nearly $3.9 million behind a plan to get more than 310 women into skilled trades careers, with a large share of that support aimed at survivors of gender-based violence and others who have historically faced barriers to steady employment.
The funding, delivered through the sixth round of the province’s Skills Development Fund Training Stream, was announced by Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini. It pairs hands-on trades training with mentorship, wraparound supports and direct connections to employers.
Who Is Receiving the Funding
Four organizations are sharing the investment. Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region is receiving just over $2 million to help 42 survivors of gender-based violence train for careers in carpentry, cabinetmaking and mechanical trades. The Redwood for Women and Children Fleeing Abuse is getting just over $914,000 to support 100 survivors moving into HVAC, gas fitting, refrigeration and other construction-related trades.
The Canadian Association of Women in Construction is receiving close to $460,000 to prepare 120 women for supervisory and project management roles on construction sites, while the Metro Labour Education and Skills Training Centre is getting just over $496,000 to help 50 women stay employed and advance once they are already in the workforce.
Built on Lessons From an Auditor General Review
This round of funding was designed with extra scrutiny baked in. Following recommendations from Ontario’s Auditor General in 2025, the province is now tracking longer-term employment outcomes at the three, six and twelve month marks rather than just measuring who finishes training. Applicants must also disclose any use of registered lobbyists or consultants, checked against Ontario’s Lobbyists Registry, and every project goes through a tighter risk assessment before approval.
Ontario went a step further than what the Auditor General recommended, adding new due diligence tools that look not just at the applying organization but at the individuals connected to each application.
A Bigger Picture for Women in the Trades
The timing lines up with a broader shift already underway in Ontario’s trades workforce. More than 385,000 women were working in skilled trades-related jobs across the province in 2025, close to a third of the entire trades workforce, and 15 percent of active apprentices are now women, the highest share the ministry has ever recorded.
Minister Piccini tied the investment directly to Ontario’s infrastructure ambitions, noting that homes, highways and hospitals all need a workforce capable of building them, and that opening more doors for women is part of meeting that demand while keeping the province competitive against U.S. tariff pressure.
Skilled trades remain one of the clearest pathways into stable, well-paid work in Ontario, and that matters directly for newcomer women building a life in the province. Programs like this one, especially those run through community organizations with wraparound supports, tend to be more accessible to newcomers than a standard training program, since they often help with practical barriers like transportation, licensing recognition, and workplace culture alongside the technical training itself. Newcomer women interested in these trades should reach out to the funded organizations directly, since eligibility and intake details are typically handled at the project level rather than through a centralized government application.
This also fits a pattern worth watching for anyone considering Ontario as an immigration destination. The province’s skilled trades shortage is a well-documented driver behind several of its economic immigration priorities, and funding rounds like this one are a strong signal that trades remain, and will likely keep being, one of the more dependable routes into the Ontario labour market for years to come.
A Pathway Worth Watching
With over 385,000 women already working in Ontario’s trades and apprenticeship participation climbing every year, this is not a one-off announcement but part of a sustained push. We will keep tracking future funding rounds, apprenticeship pathways, and provincial nominee updates connected to Ontario’s skilled trades sector as they are announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much funding is Ontario providing and to how many women?
Ontario is investing nearly $3.9 million across four organizations to help more than 310 women train for careers in the skilled trades.
Which organizations are receiving the funding?
Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region, The Redwood for Women and Children Fleeing Abuse, the Canadian Association of Women in Construction, and the Metro Labour Education and Skills Training Centre are all receiving funding under Round 6.
Is this funding open to newcomers and immigrant women?
The announcement does not restrict eligibility by immigration status. Interested women, including newcomers, should contact the lead organizations directly to ask about intake requirements.
How do I apply for one of these training programs?
There is no central government application. People interested in participating should contact the lead organization for the project directly, as noted in the province’s announcement.
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