Endorsement driven by the party’s strong commitment to investing in skilled trades and protecting Ontario workers
NORTH YORK, February 7, 2025 — Today, Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs welcomed an endorsement from the Operative Plasterers’, Cement Masons’ and Restoration Steeplejacks’ International Association of the United States and Canada (OPCMIA) Local 598. Their endorsement highlights the Ontario PCs’ strong commitment to supporting workers, boosting economic growth, and standing firm against the threat of U.S. tariffs.
“I am grateful for the support of Tony, Jason and the more than 600 hardworking members of OPCMIA Local 598,” said Doug Ford. “I’ve always said our workers in the skilled trades are the backbone of Ontario’s economy. That’s why we’ll continue to support partners like the OPCMIA to build their apprenticeship programs, expand opportunities for young people and make record investments in training to ensure they have the tools to succeed. Together, we’ll continue to protect our workers, promote the trades and build a stronger, more prosperous Ontario for everyone.”
“Doug Ford, David Piccini, and the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party have always been champions of Ontario’s skilled trades, standing by workers every step of the way,” said Jason Langley, President and Director of Training, OPCMIA Local 598. “Their leadership has delivered real results, from strengthening apprenticeship programs to expanding opportunities for young people to pursue rewarding careers in the trades. They have delivered on their promise of better jobs, bigger paycheques, and safer workplaces for Ontarians.”
“OPCMIA Local 598 applauds this government’s work to make Ontario a leader in the skilled trades, from promoting the trades as a viable and respected career path to significant investments in training and skill development,” said Tony Mollica, Business Manager, OPCMIA Local 598. “We know that Doug Ford and David Piccini are the best choice for Ontario’s future. We are proud to support them as they seek another four-year mandate so they can keep working for workers, strengthening Ontaro’s economy and making our province the best place to build, invest and create new jobs in the trades.”
Since 2018, the Ontario PCs have supported and invested significantly in the skilled trades, including the following:
- Funding from the Skills Development Fund to help the OPCMIA Local 598 hire two full-time trainers for the Red Seal Brick and Stone and the Red Seal Cement Mason programs, helping 72 new apprentices train for careers in these trades.
- 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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