Ontario has announced more than $1.5 million for a construction-training project in Newmarket, with plans to help 140 workers and jobseekers develop technical, safety and leadership skills.
The November 10 announcement places the project in the sixth round of the province’s Skills Development Fund Training Stream. For Durham readers following skilled-trades opportunities, this is a training announcement to investigate—not an announcement of a Durham-based program or guaranteed local jobs.
What the training will cover
According to the provincial release, Bird Infrastructure Ltd. will lead the Integrated Craftsmanship and Complex Project Training Program in Newmarket. It combines classroom instruction with practical learning in mechanical craftsmanship, rigging and hoisting, leadership and mentorship.
The province says the training is intended to support advancement in plumbing, welding, steam fitting, pipefitting, sheet metal work and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). It links the investment to the need for skilled workers on infrastructure projects, including highways and hospitals.
What Durham residents should check
The release does not confirm whether Durham residents can participate, nor does it provide an application deadline, course timetable or detailed entry requirements. Readers should not assume that the funding means registration is open or that every applicant will receive a place.
Ontario directs interested people to contact the lead organization directly. Before making travel or employment arrangements, prospective participants should ask Bird Infrastructure about eligibility, training locations, scheduling, any participant costs and the credentials or experience required.
More tracking of training outcomes
Ontario says Round 6 includes changes following the Auditor General’s 2025 program review: tracking employment outcomes at three, six and 12 months, disclosure of registered lobbyists and consultants, and more rigorous screening and risk assessment of proposed projects.
Those measures concern how the funding program is managed. They are not evidence that this newly announced project has already delivered jobs or completed training.
The practical takeaway is to separate the funded training plan from the details needed to decide whether it is suitable. Durham eligibility and intake arrangements remain matters to confirm with the provider.
Source: Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development news release, November 10, 2026. This article is an original summary of the announcement.
