David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Nolan Quinn, Minister of Colleges and Universities, visited the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO) Morrisburg campus to announce the award of $617,058 from the Ontario government’s Apprenticeship Capital Grant (ACG).
The money will be used to increase and enhance training for apprentices and workers by investing in new technology and machines, including a new excavator.
Local 793 Business Manager Mike Gallagher thanked the government for its continued support.
“The ACG assists OETIO to obtain new equipment, which is relevant to the industry, to prepare the apprentices to meet the challenges in the workforce,” Gallagher said. “As our trade has a large capital cost in training, this funding greatly assists in keeping our training current.”
During the visit, both Ministers visited the training dome before speaking to students in the auditorium.
OETIO Executive Director Rick Kerr, who welcomed the Ministers to the Union’s training campus south of Ottawa, said, “Given labour shortages in this trade and the evolving technology that continues to improve the efficiency of operators, obtaining an excavator with relevant practical attributes will improve the apprenticeship experience as well as employment opportunities of individuals completing the training program.”