Journal staff
The province is investing $364,000 in an ‘innovative millwright training program’ in Sarnia, officials announced this week.
“This investment will help 100 journeypersons and apprentices in southwestern Ontario improve their skills working on boomlifts, elevating work platforms, forklifts and other critical equipment,” Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development announced during a press conference held at the Millwright Local 1592 centre, Thursday, “so they can meet the needs of local employers and earn bigger paycheques for themselves and their families.
“The funding will also help increase training opportunities at Local 1592 in Sarnia for decades to come, allowing them to incorporate new state-of-the-art equipment into their training curriculum,” he added.
Participants will be trained and certified on four pieces of equipment including boom lifts and elevating work platforms, forklifts, telehandlers, and scissor lifts, according to the government. They will also get help with technical skilling and employment support.
Millwright Local 1592 is one of eight Millwright Locals in Ontario. Local 1592 is located in Sarnia and services Lambton, Middlesex, Oxford, Huron, Perth and Bruce Counties.
"This is another important investment by our government in the future of Sarnia-Lambton and the highly skilled workforce in our community," said Bob Bailey, MPP for Sarnia-Lambton. "This investment will help more workers in Sarnia-Lambton launch good-paying, in-demand careers in the skilled trades.”
The project is funded through the government’s Skills Development Fund.