Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs Welcome Support from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Endorsement driven by the party’s strong commitment to invest in skilled trades and protect
Ontario workers
NIAGARA FALLS, January 31, 2025 — Today, Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs welcomed an
endorsement from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). Their
endorsement reflects the Ontario PCs’ unwavering support for investing in workers,
strengthening our economy and protecting Ontario in the face of President Trump’s tariff threats.
“I am honoured to have the support of the more than 18,000 hardworking women and men who
belong to IBEW and who are so critical to our province’s success,” said Doug Ford. “With the
support of Ontario workers and a strong, stable mandate for the next four years, our Ontario PC
team will continue to invest in the skilled trades, create new jobs and opportunities, and protect
Ontario.”
Doug Ford renewed the Ontario PCs’ commitment to enforce compulsory certification in the
electrical trade and ensure all electrical workers in Ontario are registered apprentices or have a
certificate of qualification.
“On behalf of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Construction Council of
Ontario, which represents 11 local Unions and 18,000 members across Ontario, I would like to
announce our continued endorsement for Premier Doug Ford and Minister David Piccini.
Throughout my personal leadership career spanning more than three decades, NO provincial
government or political party has done more for the electrical trade than our current government
under the leadership of Doug Ford,” said James Barry, President of the IBEW CCO. “Premier
Ford and Minister Piccini’s willingness to have open, honest conversations at literally any given
time, day or night and their commitment to our member’s education along with a renewed
commitment to upholding the integrity of our trade as Registered Apprentices and Licensed
Journeypersons is truly unprecedented. I look forward to working with both Doug and David in
the months and years ahead to accomplish our shared common goals for our entire
membership and ALL Compulsory Certified tradesperson’s across this great province of
Ontario.”
Since 2018, the Ontario PCs have invested significantly in the skilled trades, including the
following:
- $41 million to IBEW and their local chapters through the Skills Development Fund to help
more people gain the skills and training they need to find good-paying jobs in the
electrical sector. - 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 apprenticeships 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 over $1 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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