Ontario, Canadian governments investing over $200K to protect Hamilton steel workers

The governments of Ontario and Canada are working together to invest over $203,000 to help protect steel and manufacturing workers in the Hamilton area.

Invested through the Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response, the government says funding will help 75 workers and jobseekers upgrade their skills and transition to in-demand careers.

Recent layoffs at Stelco impact as many as 500 employees at both Hamilton and Lake Erie Works.

This new Hamilton-focused investment is part of the province’s larger strategy to protect workers and key industries from U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.

The Canada-Ontario Workforce Tariff Response was created to deliver $228.8 million over three years to support workers in the softwood, lumber, steel and automotive sectors. Part of that funding is also aimed at assisting other tariff-affected industries.

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Through Skills Advance Ontario, the province will deliver the funding to its partners which consist of employers and training providers to help facilitate the transition into in-demand careers.

Approximately 27,000 workers in Ontario are expected to benefit from the broader response by gaining new skills, helping them transition to other growing industries.

The provincial government says the training will be delivered by Learning Connections Hamilton through its Skill Pathways for Work project.

Training there is supposed to provide participants with skill assessments, specialized training plans, digital skills upgrading and more.

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