Ontario announces $1B investment to train workers

Key Takeaways:

• The Ontario government is expanding its Skills Development Fund (SDF) by nearly $1 billion over three years—bringing the total investment to $2.5 billion—to train and reskill workers, particularly those impacted by U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.
• The funding includes $705 million for the SDF Training Stream to provide hands-on training in key sectors like manufacturing and health care, and $150 million for the SDF Capital Stream to build and upgrade training facilities.
• This investment is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Ontario’s economic resilience, support job security, and maintain the province’s competitive edge by investing in its skilled workforce amidst global challenges.

The Whole Story:

As its latest response to U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty, the Ontario provincial government is expanding its Skills Development Fund (SDF) by nearly $1 billion over the next three years, for a total of $2.5 billion. This funding will help train and reskill Ontario workers, including those directly impacted by layoffs resulting from tariffs.

“We’re already seeing the impact of President Trump’s tariffs and the economic uncertainty he has created on Ontario workers,” said Premier Doug Ford. “My message to these workers and their families is clear: We’ll always have your backs. Today’s announcement of a further $1 billion in SDF funding is just the latest step in our plan to protect Ontario by investing in workers and making sure they have the support they need to succeed, no matter what comes our way.”

To help Ontario workers gain in-demand skills and practical hands-on experience, the government is expanding the Skills Development Fund by $955 million over three years starting in 2025–26.

This includes $705 million in new funding through the upcoming 2025 Ontario Budget to train more workers through the SDF Training Stream, building on the additional $100 million announced in January 2025. These funds will support more projects that will help build Ontario and protect workers and jobs in industries expected to face pressures from U.S. tariffs, including manufacturing and health care.

Through the upcoming 2025 Ontario Budget, the government is also providing $150 million over three years starting in 2025–26 to support increased demand in the SDF Capital Stream. This investment will help more organizations build, expand and retrofit their training facilities to deliver better training programs and help more workers get better jobs and bigger paycheques.

“Ontario’s prosperity is built with the hands of skilled workers,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Through the Skills Development Fund, our government is making historic investments in the training, tools and supports that workers need to succeed. Ontario’s greatest competitive advantage is our highly skilled, world-class workers and today’s investment strengthens their paycheques and ensures Ontario remains strong in the face of global uncertainty.”

These new investments through the Skills Development Fund brings the total SDF funding commitment to $2.5 billion, continuing to demonstrate the government’s support for major industries and sectors while training the workers needed to build and strengthen Ontario’s economy.

“Our government has a plan to protect and support the training of the province’s highly skilled and world class workforce against U.S.-imposed tariffs and for generations to come,” said Peter Bethlenfalvy, Minister of Finance. “Our government continues to demonstrate our commitment to invest in our greatest resource, our workers. With these investments through the Skills Development Fund streams, we are taking bold actions to support our workers and businesses, while ensuring the economic prosperity of the province.”

More information about the government’s plan will be included in the 2025 Ontario Budget, to be released on May 15, 2025.