Ontario Supporting Keewaytinook Okimakinak Communities with Skilled Trades Training

December 2, 2025

Government investing $863,460 to help Indigenous Peoples in remote communities gain the skills needed for good-paying jobs

December 2nd  2025

Thunder Bay — The Ontario government is investing $863,460 through the Skills Development Fund Training Stream to support Indigenous peoples in six Keewaytinook Okimakinak (KO) communities. This funding will provide training opportunities that help community members gain the skills needed to secure good-paying, in-demand jobs in the skilled trades while supporting long-term economic growth and opportunity in Northern Ontario.

“Under the leadership of Premier Ford, our government is protecting Ontario by investing in the tools, training, and resources needed to keep our workforce strong,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Through targeted funding, we’re strengthening our supply chains, growing a job-ready workforce, and building the foundation for a more self-reliant and productive province – one that can compete, deliver, and win.”

Developed in partnership with Keewaytinook Okimakinak leadership, this project reflects community priorities by providing accessible and culturally relevant training opportunities. By creating pathways into the skilled trades, it will help participants gain valuable hands-on experience, build rewarding careers close to home, and strengthen the long-term growth and self-reliance of their communities.

“This investment will open doors for people in the Keewaytinook Okimakinak communities to access training that leads to long-term, good-paying jobs,” said Kevin Holland, MPP for Thunder Bay–Atikokan. “By working together with First Nations partners, we are creating new pathways that strengthen communities, support families, and ensure that more people can build their futures here in the North.”

“The funding supports the continued development of our Red Seal program, an initiative that provides adult learners with hands-on training in skilled trades and prepares them to contribute meaningfully within their home communities.” Said Patrick Stoddart, Director of Education at Keeywaytinook Okimakanak Board of Education “This initiative reflects KOBE’s ongoing commitment to fostering resiliency and self-sufficiency across our communities by empowering adult learners with meaningful, community-based opportunities.”

The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is open to a wide range of applicants, including employers, industry associations, labour unions, hospitals, and many more. The funding announced today builds on the government’s mission to protect Ontario and ensure it remains the best place to live, work, and raise a family.

Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s Skills Development Fund has helped connect more than half a million jobseekers with the skills and training they need to find good-paying and fulfilling careers close to home.

Quick Facts

  • So far, the Skills Development Fund Training Stream has supported over 1,000 training projects across the province.

  • Since its launch in 2021, Ontario’s SDF Training Stream has aimed to help over 700,000 workers train for in-demand sectors, including over 154,000 construction workers, over 124,000 manufacturing workers, and over 52,000 personal support workers and health care workers.

  • People interested in participating in the programs announced today are encouraged to contact the lead organizations of the projects directly.

  • The Skills Development Fund Training Stream is supported through labour market transfer agreements between the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario.

  • As announced in the 2025 Budget: A Plan to Protect Ontario, the Ontario government is investing an additional $1 billion through SDF to grow the trades workforce and build Ontario, bringing Ontario’s total investment in SDF to $2.5 billion.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES