Endorsement driven by the party’s strong commitment to investing in skilled trades and protecting Ontario workers
TORONTO, February 8, 2025 — Today, Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs welcomed an endorsement from the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers (IAHFIAW or Insulators). Their endorsement highlights the Ontario PCs’ strong commitment to investing in workers, boosting economic growth and protecting Ontario against the threat of President Trump’s tariffs.
“I’m truly honoured to receive the endorsement of Adam Melnick and the hardworking members of IAHFIAW,” said Premier Doug Ford. “These dedicated men and women are incredibly important as we work to build and protect Ontario. Our PC government has always prioritized investing in training programs, apprenticeships and the promotion of the trades because we know how essential they are to our future. I’ll continue working to ensure that Ontario’s skilled workforce has the support they need to succeed.”
“The International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers is proud to endorse Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs,” said Adam Melnick, Director of Canadian Affairs. “Under his leadership, there has been a renewed commitment to promote Ontario’s skilled trades and protect the workers driving Ontario’s growth. A significant achievement has been the inclusion of asbestos-related illnesses in the Occupational Exposure Registry, marking a major step forward in protecting the safety of workers and their families. Doug Ford’s ongoing support ensures that our members can thrive in an evolving economy while preserving the strength and legacy of our trade. We look forward to continuing this powerful partnership, which benefits over 2,500 workers across Ontario.”
Since 2018, the Ontario PCs have supported and invested significantly in the skilled trades, including the following:
- Investing more than $2 million through the Skills Development Fund and the Apprenticeship Capital Grant to help the Insulators provide free training to over 200 journeypersons and apprentices in the heat and frost insulating trades, and ensure apprentices have the tools and equipment they need to train for in-demand jobs in their sector.
- Working to prevent future asbestos-related illnesses by incorporating asbestos-related data into a new Occupational Exposure Registry, which tracks harmful exposure limits for workers.
- More than $63 million to help students and young people get first-hand experience and prepare for future careers in the skilled trades.
- Creating a new 27-week job-protected long-term illness leave for workers with a serious medical condition.
- Putting money back into workers’ pockets by waiving the fee for apprentices taking their first Certificate of Qualification exam, saving each apprentice up to $570 throughout their apprenticeship journey.
Only Doug Ford has a plan to protect Ontario:
- Building Ontario’s economy by investing more than $200 billion in our plan to build roads, highways, transit and other infrastructure projects while investing over $2.5 billion to train more than a million people for better jobs and bigger paycheques in the skilled trades.
- Protecting workers in the face of President Trump’s tariffs by doing whatever is necessary to protect people’s livelihoods, including by investing tens of billions of dollars to keep people working.
- Keeping us competitive by fighting the job-killing Liberal carbon tax and urging the federal government to cut red tape and streamline approvals to get big things built.
- Cleaning up our streets by protecting families and children by banning drug injection sites near schools and daycares and clearing out encampments from public parks with new investments in shelters.
- Delivering better care, including by investing $1.8 billion more to connect everyone in Ontario to a family doctor and primary care.
Doug Ford will never stop working to protect Ontario.
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