McGuinty Government Helping Students Combine Education and Training
Building Opportunity Through Popular Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program
SCARBOROUGH, ON, Feb. 15 – The McGuinty government is helping young people reach their potential by combining a postsecondary education with hands-on training, Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced today at Centennial College, where he was joined by Minister Mary Anne Chambers, MPP Scarborough East, and Brad Duguid, MPP Scarborough Centre.
“Our government wants to help people establish successful careers,” said Duguid. “With this new funding, Centennial College students can combine industry-supported apprenticeship training with college education emphasizing the communication, finance and management skills needed in the business world.”
The Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program combines a college diploma program and apprenticeship training, leading to a Certificate of Qualification. This year, 700 new spaces are being created for students in the Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program through an investment of approximately $10 million for 21 programs at 14 colleges. Minister Chambers told the audience that the McGuinty government has invested almost $37 million in the Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program since 2004. “By allowing people to train as apprentices while earning an associated diploma, this program adds flexibility to the apprenticeship system, responds to employer needs, and attracts more people to the skilled trades,” said Bentley.
Centennial College is receiving $957,000 to create spaces for 66 students to complete a Motive Power Technician or a Heavy Equipment Technician diploma and receive apprenticeship training in three different trades: Automotive Service Technician, Heavy Duty Equipment Technician and Truck and Coach Equipment Technician. These programs are supported by industry partnerships that supply equipment for classroom training and provide paid work placements.
“This program really gives students a great introduction to the industry,” said Centennial College President Ann Buller. “Students earn a two-year college diploma, which counts for all of the in-school instruction needed for their trade certification. In addition, they gain eight months of on-the-job experience with pay.”
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The Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program provides increased flexibility and accessibility by offering people the opportunity to complete a college diploma and, at the same time, register as an apprentice and work toward the provincial Certificate of Qualification. The program also includes business and entrepreneurship courses to help participants prepare to start their own businesses, if they choose.
When the program launched in 2004-05, six colleges delivered five programs to 200 participants. New programs and participant spaces have been added each year. In 2007-08, the government’s investment of approximately $10 million will add almost 700 spaces, bringing the program’s cumulative total to almost 3,500 participants.
The Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program can be accessed through Employment Ontario, Ontario’s employment and training network. Employment Ontario provides almost $1 billion in integrated training, apprenticeship and labour market services, bringing together about 1200 service providers in all regions of the province.
People interested in participating in the Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program should call the Employment Ontario hotline, at 1-800-387-5656, or visit www.ontario.ca/employmentontario for details about individual projects.
The McGuinty government has made a significant commitment to increase the number of apprenticeship registrations to 26,000 annually in 2007-08. In addition to the Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program, other programs and initiatives to achieve this goal include:
The Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit
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The tax credit makes it easier for employers to hire and train new apprentices.
Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program
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This school-to-work transition program enables senior high school students to gain apprenticeship experience.
Pre-Apprenticeship Program
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This program provides individuals, such as youth, Aboriginal peoples, women and under-represented groups, with the opportunity to upgrade trade-related skills so they can be eligible for an apprenticeship.
Apprenticeship Training Action Table
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This initiative brings together partners in the apprenticeship system to help ensure government, education providers, and industry are taking the right steps to achieve shared apprenticeship system goals.
Minister’s Apprenticeship Employer Recognition Awards
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This event honours businesses that have shown leadership in training their employees through the apprenticeship system.
Apprenticeship Program
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This program funds the classroom instruction component of apprenticeship training at Ontario’s Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology and at designated private training centers.
Contact:
Tanya Blazina
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
416-325-2746
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For further information: Sheamus Murphy, Minister’s Office, (416) 325-7215; Tanya Blazina, Communications Branch, (416) 325-2746; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892
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