Ontario boosts funding for Second Career program

‘Our single focus is on giving hardworking men and women the tools they need to start a good job and make a better living’

Ontario boosts funding for Second Career program

Ontario is boosting supports provided through its Second Career program for laid-off and unemployed workers.

The government is increasing the weekly basic living supports for rent, mortgage and other expenses up to $500 a week for those pursuing training and starting new and better careers. Additionally, the government is enhancing transportation and child care supports to better reflect the costs that people currently face.

“Increasing support for laid-off and unemployed workers is key to our mission of spreading opportunity more fairly and widely,” says Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, training and skills development. “No worker will be left behind in our recovery. Through improvements like these, our single focus is on giving hardworking men and women the tools they need to start a good job and make a better living for themselves and their families.”

Second Career funding helps laid-off, unemployed workers pay for the tuition of training programs of 52 weeks duration or less, including eligible university and college courses, micro-credential programs and other vocational training programs. Ontario is providing $82.4 million for the 2021-22 budget for the program.

The maximum funding support that a Second Career client can receive to help pay for their education and living expenses is $28,000.

Since its launch in 2008, the program has helped more than 117,000 people train for new careers and land new jobs.

Ontario is also providing training supports for immigrants impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and underrepresented groups in the automotive manufacturing sector.

In May, the province announced it is revamping apprenticeships by introducing new measures to help tradespeople get their certification from one streamlined destination.

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