°µÍø½ûÇø

Recent attempts to discredit Ontario’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) and worse, to portray historic union endorsements of the Progressive Conservative Party as somehow nefarious, does a disservice to truth, integrity and every worker who gets up each day to build this province.

Let’s be clear: this is nothing more than a political smear campaign by those who claim to stand with workers, but long ago abandoned them.

For too long, the skilled trades were treated as an afterthought. Training centres were underfunded, youth were discouraged from pursuing the trades and public investment lagged far behind economic and infrastructure demand. That neglect hollowed out our workforce and stalled opportunity, what many now call the lost decade.

The SDF changed that. It re-established Ontario as a leader in workforce training, investing in people, technology and innovation to keep our province ahead of demand. It gave workers the tools to build better lives for their families and strengthened partnerships between labour, industry and government.

Make no mistake, skilled workers are the foundation of Ontario’s economic strength. They build the infrastructure that moves us, the housing that shelters us, and the energy systems that secure our independence. They are the engine behind every highway, hospital, nuclear expansion and pipeline that keeps Ontario growing and Canada strong.

Yet, in the face of this undeniable need, we’re caught in a storm of political posturing and communication chaos. The same voices that oppose infrastructure development now stand against the very investments that train, equip, and empower the people who build it.

You cannot claim to stand with workers while undermining the jobs that sustain them. You cannot call yourself pro-union while opposing progress. The skilled trades don’t need empty rhetoric, they need respect, investment and action.

Now more than ever, we must strengthen training and apprenticeship pathways that prepare workers for the next generation of nation-building projects, from green energy and advanced manufacturing to modern transportation networks.

And the results speak for themselves. Apprenticeship registrations rose by over 7.3 per cent in 2024-25, reaching 28,875, the highest level in a decade working to reverse years of decline. Women are entering the trades in record numbers, supported by policy to eliminate barriers to retention and advancement in the industry.

Indigenous communities are building pathways to long-term, sustainable careers. Youth at risk, veterans, newcomers and students are finding stability, confidence and purpose through programs that meet them where they are and lift them higher. Behind every statistic is a person who was given a first shot, a second chance, or the belief that their future could be brighter than their past.

Every day, LiUNA members show up to build the infrastructure that powers every corner of our province. In return, they want a government that shows up for them. That government is the Doug Ford government, which has demonstrated through leadership, collaboration and results its unwavering commitment to working with labour to strengthen Ontario’s workforce. 

With historic infrastructure investments now underway to meet Ontario’s growing needs, skilled, safe and productive workers are needed more than ever, and the SDF is part of the solution, not the problem.

As Ontario’s largest construction union, with training and education centres in nearly every city, LiUNA has seen firsthand the transformative power of the SDF.

These investments are not political handouts; they are strategic partnerships that create opportunity, strengthen communities and secure Ontario’s economic future. The SDF supports the generations of work led by unions like LiUNA, recognizing that when labour, community and government work together, barriers are broken and futures are built.

It was rank-and-file union members, in both the private and public sectors who helped deliver three consecutive majority governments for the Ford government, because they saw real results. For the first time in a generation, workers saw themselves reflected in government policy. Today, skilled workers are respected, invested in and empowered. That is not partisan politics, it is sound public policy.

We commend Labour Minister David Piccini and the Ford government for their leadership in investing in the men and women who build and power Ontario forward. 

Those who claim to stand with workers should remember: Investing in people is not political — it’s principled. Politicizing programs that transform lives only exposes how out of touch they’ve become with the realities of today’s workforce.

Victoria Mancinelli is the director of public relations, marketing and strategic partnerships for the Labourers International Union of North America. Send Industry Perspectives Op-Ed comments and column ideas to editor@dailycommercialnews.com.