'We have a responsibility to ensure they have a life to return to when their service is complete'
Ontario is making it easier for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members, their spouses and veterans to start careers in the skilled trades.
The government has introduced Honouring Veterans Act, 2024 to reduce the impact of frequent moves on military spouses. The legislation proposes changes to accelerate credential recognition for veterans and military spouses who are regulated professionals from other provinces and relocating to Ontario.
“From our consultations with soldiers, their spouses and veterans, we heard that their biggest challenges when returning home are finding careers that recognize their military skills and experience, without burdensome red tape and delays,” says David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.
“That’s why our government has introduced the Honouring Veterans Act to formally recognize certain military trades with their civilian trades equivalent and help them start their civilian careers in the trades. We have a social contract with our servicemen and women who serve to protect us, and that means we have a responsibility to ensure they have a life to return to when their service is complete – our government is proud to uphold that social contract with this new bill.”
Military trade credentials
Under the bill, a CAF member who was a material technician responsible for repairing and maintaining vehicles in the armed forces would have a clear path to have their credentials and experience recognized to work as a civilian welder, for example.
The government is also proposing changes to formally recognize military trade credentials for their civilian trade equivalent.
Under Skilled Trades Ontario’s (STO) credential recognition process, individuals holding certain military trade credentials can be approved to take the certifying exam to obtain their Certificate of Qualification in a corresponding civilian trade. CAF members, spouses and veterans would also be able to connect to employment services prior to moving to Ontario, to help secure careers locally in their communities.
If passed, legislative changes would codify nine military trades with their civilian equivalent recognized by STO, including: Construction Technician, Cook, Electrical Distribution Technician, Electrical Technician, Material Technician, Marine Engineering Technician, Plumbing and Heating Technician, Refrigeration and Mechanical Technician and Vehicle Technical.
There are over 149,000 Canadian Armed forces Veterans residing in Ontario.
Previously, Ontario proposed legislation that would provide job-protected leave for reservists who would require physical and mental treatment after their service.
Skills Development Fund for veterans
Ontario is also investing $2.4 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) to provide free training for CAF members and veterans in tech and cybersecurity careers, including:
- Coding For Veterans: Over $1.9 million in Coding for Veterans, which will provide free online software development and cyber security upskilling for veterans and civilians for careers in Ontario’s tech industry, including software development, network security, and cybersecurity.
- Roland Gossage Foundation: Over $491,000 towards the Soldiers in Tech Project led by The Roland Gossage Foundation and training partner Lighthouse Labs, which will train veterans and their spouses for careers in tech with mentorship opportunities, as well as upskill active CAF members in fields such as cyber security, data analytics, data science and web development.
On Nov. 7, the Ontario government announced a $3-million investment over three years to Helmets to Hardhats Canada to help Canadian Armed Forces members transition to new careers in the construction sector.
James Hogarth, executive director, Helmets to Hardhats, welcomed the latest development from the Ontario government.
"Helmets to Hardhats Canada is honoured to receive this support from the Ontario government, which will allow us to help more veterans transition into meaningful careers in Ontario's unionized construction sector. This investment ensures that our programs remain sustainable, empowering those who served our country to access employment and training resources that will lead them to in-demand careers as skilled trade professionals. We are proud to support those who served our country as they build secure and rewarding futures in civilian life."
In 2023, Ontario also invested $4.3 million in four innovative training projects to help CAF members prepare for in-demand jobs and transition to civilian life.
