Ontario funded free AZ licence training for 24 newcomers
In April 2021, a SkillsAdvance project in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area offered training, language help and paid job placements to new truck drivers.
In April 2021, the Ontario government announced nearly $400,000 for a skills training project to help 24 newcomers earn their AZ licence and start trucking careers in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton area.
The province said the industry was expected to face 25,000 driver vacancies across Canada by 2023.
What participants got
The free program was run with Hamilton's Immigrants Working Centre, Commercial Heavy Equipment Training and several transportation companies. It offered:
- training for the AZ licence needed to drive a tractor-trailer in Ontario
- language training and help with job interviews
- a paid job placement for each participant
- money for costs such as travel and childcare
The first group of 12 was expected to start training by the end of May 2021 and be ready for work by the end of September. A second group of 12 was scheduled to start in August.
Labour Minister Monte McNaughton and Transportation Minister Caroline Mulroney both backed the project in the announcement. It was part of the province's SkillsAdvance Ontario program.