Ontario’s Clean Energy Workforce Continues to Grow
McGuinty Government Supports Sustainable Energy Training for Students
Ontario’s sustainable energy technology programs are helping build a skilled workforce to meet the demand for clean energy jobs and strengthen the province’s position as a clean energy leader in North America.
Today, Energy Minister Chris Bentley visited Sault College students in theRenewable Energy and Green Construction Techniques program, where they are training to be the next generation of highly-skilled workers in the provinces growing clean-energy industry. Ontario has introduced new postsecondary and apprenticeship programs focused on sustainable energy technology. Sault College is one of 13 colleges and three universities that offer programs related to clean energy. Program graduates will be in a position to assist with feasibility assessments, renewable energy system installations, and green construction and renovation.
Supporting the next generation of clean-energy workers, while building a clean energy system is part of the McGuinty government’s plan to create and support jobs for Ontario families while ensuring we have the electricity we need to power our homes, schools, hospitals and our economy.
QUICK FACTS
- In Ontario, there are 120,000 apprentices learning a trade today — which is nearly 60,000 more than in 2002-03.
- Ontario’s target for clean, renewable energy from wind, solar and bioenergy is 10,700 MW by 2018, the equivalent of taking up to 2.9 million homes off the grid.
- So far, Ontario has brought more than 9,000 megawatts of new and refurbished clean energy online – enough to power cities the size of Ottawa and Toronto.
- To keep the cost of postsecondary tuition within everyone’s reach, the McGuinty Government is providing a grant to reduce undergraduate college and university tuition by an average of 30 per cent for families earning less than $160,000 per year.
