Skills Ontario Presents to Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs

April 9, 2021

Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario, and Paul Clipsham, Director of Stakeholder Operations at Skills Ontario, presented to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs to discuss the impact and opportunities that Skills Ontario has in building the future skilled workforce. Skills Ontario is a non-profit organization that addresses the labour shortage through informative, inspiring, and inclusive programming.

“The pandemic has underscored the essential role that skilled trade and technology careers play in our economy, our health care system, and our day-to-day lives. We applaud the Ontario government for recognizing the importance of skilled trades and technologies, and we thank the Standing Committee for having us today,” says Ian Howcroft, CEO of Skills Ontario. “The government’s partnership with Skills Ontario is a strong indication of their commitment to connecting more Ontarians with rewarding careers in these fields, and we look forward to building and continuing our partnership in order for us to address this very significant labour shortage challenge.

“Furthermore, diversity, inclusion, and representation are top priorities for Skills Ontario. We have shared goals with the Government of Ontario to ensure all Ontarians feel heard, welcome, and appreciated in the skilled careers, and we are looking forward to continuing to work with communities across Ontario to ensure that we are providing equal opportunities for all youth and building a diverse and robust skilled workforce.”

Skills Ontario has been delivering programs and events through its Young Women’s Initiatives and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Initiatives for many years, and in 2020, the organization hired a Diversity and Inclusion Manager to continue to prioritize reaching under-represented groups and inspiring them to explore skilled trades and technologies. The organization has found great success through its programs and initiatives, and continues to deliver programs that connect education, experience, and employment to Ontarians. 

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