Ontario’s Budget includes Future Skilled Trades Investments and Clean Home Heating Pilot Program

This week the five-week summer session of the Ontario Legislative Assembly began with a primary purpose of passing the provincial budget.  

On August 9th 2022, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy re-introduced the government’s budget as Bill 2, Plan to Build Act (Budget Measures), 2022. The proposed legislation is mostly unchanged from the version that was first tabled but not passed before the spring election.’

In the budget, the government announced, among other things, its intention to provide up to $4.5 million to support a Clean Home Heating Initiative that would help families in London, St. Catharines, Peterborough and Sault Ste. Marie to keep costs down. In partnership with Enbridge Gas Inc., the pilot would support the installation of electric heat pumps with smart controls for up to 1,000 households across your respective communities, providing homeowners with $3,000 to $4,500 in incentives.

The project aims to use an electric heat pump to replace the homeowner’s old air conditioner to help reduce their furnace’s natural gas use. This investment would build off the initial approximately 100 home Hybrid Heating Pilot Program launched last summer by Enbridge, with support from London Hydro and the City of London. Notably, the current pilot installs Napoleon Heat Pumps, headquartered in in Barrie, Ontario, along with four other manufacturers including Lennox, Carrier, Daikin and Goodman. The initiative would be expected to result in up to $80 in annual home energy bill reductions for participating homeowners, which would increase over time.

Other notable budget allocations include the following investments in the Skilled Trades:

  • $73.8 million over three years for in‐class training for apprentices to accommodate an increase in enrolment, assist students with accessibility and accommodation needs and support additional in‐demand classes.
  • $10 million in 2022–23 to maintain the Infrastructure Talent Accelerator grant, which helps apprentices participating in the in‐demand trades train to help build historic infrastructure projects, such as the Ontario Line Subway Project and Scarborough Subway Extension.
  • $15 million over three years for the Tools Grant, which provides increased financial support for apprentices completing their apprenticeship program and receiving certification by helping apprentices pay for their tools and equipment.
  •  $6.3 million over three years for the Achievement Incentive program, which encourages and supports skilled trades employers, including those in group sponsor arrangements, when apprentices meet training and certification milestones.
  • $6 million over three years for the Group Sponsorship Grant, which improves apprentice progression and completion by supporting small‐ to medium‐sized employers to come together to train apprentices in the full scope of their trade.

For more information, contact Chelsea Goberdhan at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 236 or email cgoberdhan@hrai.ca.

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