Endorsement driven by the party’s strong commitment to investing in skilled trades and protecting Ontario workers
OTTAWA, February 4, 2025 — Today, Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs welcomed an endorsement from the Ontario Sheet Metal Workers & Roofers Conference (OSMWRC) and their nine locals across the province. 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 grateful for the support of Mark Hall and the more than 7,000 hardworking members of OSMWRC, whose dedication to their skills and craftsmanship is essential to the success of our province,” said Doug Ford. “With President Trump’s tariffs threatening OSMWRC members and millions of other workers across Ontario, we’ll do whatever it takes to protect Ontario workers and their livelihoods.”
“The Ontario Sheet Metal Workers & Roofers Conference is proud to endorse Doug Ford and the PCs for their strong commitment to standing up for workers, creating good jobs, and ensuring the next generation of skilled sheet metal and production workers, roofers, and sheeter and deckers are well-trained and prepared for the future,” said Mark Hall, Business Manager of the OSMWRC. “With over 7,000 members across the province, the Ontario Conference plays a vital role in driving economic growth and strengthening our communities. In these uncertain economic times, we need leadership that prioritizes stability, job security, and strong protections for workers. Doug Ford has demonstrated a clear dedication to building Ontario’s future while safeguarding the livelihoods of hardworking tradespeople across the province.”
“I am confident that Doug Ford and the PCs will continue to support SMART Local 47 workers and their families. They have remained steadfast in their commitment to strengthening Ottawa’s skilled trades workforce, investing in training that equips our members with the skills they need to build careers in sheet metal, roofing and production trades,” said Brent James, Business Manager & Financial Secretary-Treasurer, SMART Local 47. “SMART members are essential to building Ottawa’s economy, and I commend Doug Ford’s dedication to creating good local jobs and look forward to building a stronger future together.”
“Doug Ford and the PCs have consistently supported SMART Local 285 members and their families, demonstrating a strong commitment to skilled trades throughout Ontario,” said Bob Gougeon, Business Manager, Local 285. “I commend their continued investment in training and good local jobs, ensuring our members have the opportunities they need to build lasting careers.”
Since 2018, the Ontario PCs have invested significantly in the skilled trades, including the following:
- Over $6 million Ontario Conference locals to boost skilled trades training across the province. This includes over $4 million to build a 17,000-square-foot addition to the training centre in Ottawa and $1 million to help build a Provincial Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre in Oakville.
- 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 $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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