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Marit Stiles May 11 2026

Provincial NDP push for youth jobs program

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The provincial NDP is calling for a program to help create more summer jobs for youth.

Leader Marit (MAR-it) Stiles is proposing an Ontario Youth Summer Jobs program.

Stiles says the program offers paid employment and training or subsidized placement.

She says it would be a measure that addresses the high rate of youth unemployment in Ontario.

“A 17.7% youth unemployment rate is not normal,” says Stiles.

“In fact, it is more than 10 points higher than Ontario’s overall unemployment rate of 7.5%. And all this comes at a time when life has never been more unaffordable in our province, particularly for the young people who are just trying to get ahead.”

Statistics Canada notes that Ontario has the highest youth unemployment rate in all of Canada.

Stiles says Ford’s jobs plan is just not working for youth.

“While the premier’s approach up until now has been very dismissive and frankly condescending to young people, I think this is an opportunity for him to change things up now,” says Stiles.

“Show people that he understands the situation that young people are facing in this province and show people that he understands that it’s not that they don’t want to work, it’s that the jobs are not there and we can create those opportunities right now.”

MPPs were discussing the NDP’s proposal at Queen’s Park on Monday.

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Economy gains 67,000 jobs in October; StatsCan

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More jobs popped up in October nationwide.

StatsCan says the economy added 67,000 jobs last month.

That helped the unemployment fall two tenths of a percentage point to 6.9 percent.

It July and August, it had been the highest since 2016, not including the pandemic.

The growth was fuelled by part-time work, as 85,000 jobs were added.

The wholesale and retail sector saw the highest growth at 41,000 positions.

Around 33,000 jobs went to men aged 25-54, while youth picked up 21,000 jobs.

Employment increased in Ontario but fell in Nova Scotia.

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Many young nurses in Ontario leaving profession, says think tank

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According to a new study, more than a third of young nurses in Ontario are leaving the workforce.

Revealed in a new publication by independent think-tank MEI, 38 nurses below the age of 35 departed the workforce for every 100 new nurses that started their careers in 2023.

“This growing exodus is worsening the shortage of health care workers and putting even more pressure on our already strained system,” said Renaud Brossard, vice president of communications at the MEI in a release.

The MEI report noted that Ontario’s situation has “worsened by 68 per cent” since 2014.

“Ontario’s numbers show that simply training more nurses won’t solve the problem,” said Mr. Brossard. “Without better working conditions and flexibility, it’s like filling a leaky bucket.”

According to the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions’ 2025 survey, more than one-third of nurses reported working involuntary overtime in the past six months with 60 per cent saying they have experienced some form of violence or abuse in the past year.

Nationally, nursing job vacancies have tripled in just five years across the country, jumping from 13,178 in 2018 to 41,716 in 2023.

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Province Offers Free Online Job Training

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More free online training is on offer from the provincial government.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton announced it’s being funded with a total of $5.8-million from the Skills Development Fund this past week.

Courses will focus on building skills most in-demand by employers in fields such as information technology, finance and business administration.

McNaughton says workers will have access to over 17,000 courses taught by global industry experts.

“There are now more tools available to give workers the hand up they deserve, and to help them qualify for well-paying, in-demand jobs in their communities,” he says.

The free online training is available until March 31, 2022 through LinkedIn.

To apply, workers can visit LinkedIn or contact their local employment service provider.

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Employment Growth Slows Across Canada: StatCan

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Employment growth across Canada is slowing as new COVID-19 restrictions are implemented in parts of the country, according to Statistics Canada.

After adding 378,000 jobs in September, the country saw growth of just 84,000 in October, keeping the unemployment rate steady at 8.9 per cent.

Most of the employment increase in October was in full-time work, which rose by 69,000. The number of people working part-time was virtually unchanged, said the agency.

“Employment increases in several industries were partially offset by a decrease of 48,000 in the accommodation and food services industry, largely in Quebec,” the agency said Friday.

In fact, it StatCan said it was the first time since April that employment declined in the accommodation and food services industry.

Several industries saw employment exceed February levels last month, including professional, scientific and technical services; wholesale trade; and educational services.

StatCan said the number of unemployed Canadians remains at around 1.8 million, which is about 683,000 above pre-COVID levels in February.

Employment levels were closest to their pre-COVID February levels in Newfoundland and Labrador, Manitoba and New Brunswick.

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Students Now Able To Access Job Bank

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The national Job Bank website is now up and running for those who are looking for work.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is encouraging students and recent grads to go online.

“Their are lot’s of opportunities available. These placements mean a pay cheque and valuable experience in jobs that are key to our fight against COVID-19.”

Trudeau says thousands more employment opportunities will be added over the coming weeks.

He notes a new Canada Student Service Grant would see young people receive up to $5,000 towards their fall tuition if they volunteer in a sector needing assistance on account of the coronavirus pandemic.

To access the Job Bank website visit https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home or download the Job Bank app.

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Local Centre Offering Employment Opportunities

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Northwest Employment Works is hoping to raise more awareness on the services they offer.

Employment Advisor Tammy Oliphant addressed Dryden Rotary Wednesday, stressing the importance of their work.

Oliphant says some of their services include resume and cover letter assistance, job postings as well as mock job interviews.

She says “If you are out of work of work or out of school and you are interested and motivated to work, come on down to see us at NEW.”

The office can be found on 30 Earl Avenue.

Oliphant notes the speech to Rotary also allowed her to network with the small business community.

 

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Province Promoting Skilled Trades Field

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The government is attempting to address a shortage of skilled trades workers in Ontario.

Labour Minister Monte McNaughton says commercials are now airing, for about 8 weeks, promoting the trades.

“On any given day, 200,000 jobs are going unfilled. 13,000 of those jobs are in the construction sector. Added to that, our journey persons are retiring at a rate quicker than we can replace them.”

McNaughton says the trades, including carpentry or plumbing, “often require math, problem solving, and the use of the latest technologies in 3D printing, robotics and more. The trades can offer young workers freedom and independence.”

McNaughton says these qualities are appealing to today’s generation of young people, many of who seek that independence.

He points out there are myths about skills trades that need challenging.

“That they’re for people who aren’t as committed to school. For people who aren’t as academic, and that they’re dead end jobs. We have to challenge the stigma that somehow a career in the trades isn’t a viable first choice.”

McNaughton says there are many skilled trades people earning six figure salaries.

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More Work For Bombardier Plant In Thunder Bay

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A new Metrolinx contract is going to bring 70 to 80 jobs back to Thunder Bay’s Bombardier plant.

The work is scheduled to begin in April and end at the beginning of 2021.

Unifor spokesperson Dominic Pasqualino says it’s good news but they need more contracts.

“It will be for some retrofits on the Eglinton contract, we are very much looking forward to that. But we need more contracts, 80 people isn’t enough, I would like to see everyone back. I know the City of Toronto is looking at 60 more LRV cars, certainly, we will need that but also more cars after that.”

Chief Operating Officer of Bombardier Transportation, Americas Region, David Van der Wee says “We are going to be moving some work to Thunder Bay. It’s going to be the installation of critical onboard communications equipment.”

Van der Wee continued that this work is key to keeping operations going while they wait for provincial contracts to come down the pipeline.

“I think this is good news and that it continues to support our strategy of building a bridge of activity in Thunder Bay to the point of some of the big ambitious transportation plans that the Ford Government has put on the table really start to get traction.”

The workforce at the regional plant was 1,000 people but 500 employees were recently laid off.

The new Metrolinx contract will bring the workforce to around 450.

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Final TTC Street Car Being Built In Thunder Bay

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The last Toronto Transit Commission street car is currently under construction at the Bombardier plant in Thunder Bay.

Local union President Dominic Pasqualino says it takes about a month for a car to go through the plant before it is finished.

“There are people working on it. It’s a happy time, because we’re finishing the cars, but a sad time because we don’t have any cars to replace that order.”

However, in spite of hundreds of layoffs coming this month, Pasqualino notes 363 people will still be working in January.

“Going to be building roofs for the LRV that are being assembled in Kingston. And we’ll also be building those 36 cars that we got from Doug Ford, and that was announced in December.”

Pasqualino adds our premier, the prime minister, and Toronto’s mayor are digging in their heels to help.

“Good to see Doug Ford and Trudeau talking together. John Tory was saying he’s looking to get some more money for the transit infrastructure.”

When the current street car is done, it will bring to an end a $1 billion contract to build 204 TTC street cars.

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