Endorsement driven by the party’s strong commitment to investing in skilled trades and protecting Ontario workers
TORONTO, February 9, 2025 — Today, Doug Ford and the Ontario PCs welcomed an endorsement from Merit OpenShop Contractors Association (Merit Ontario), which represents 400 construction companies with over 12,000 employees. Their endorsement reflects the Ontario PCs’ strong commitment to investing in workers, boosting economic growth and protecting Ontario against the threat of President Trump’s tariffs.
“I am honoured to have the support of Michael Gallardo and Merit Ontario’s more than 12,000 members and grateful for their recognition of our commitment to Ontario’s skilled trades and construction industry,” said Doug Ford. “We’re investing in infrastructure and skills development to create new jobs and opportunities in partnership with Ontario workers. As we work to protect Ontario from the threat of tariffs, we’re going to continue these investments to help keep our workers on the job, building Ontario and protecting our economy.”
“Merit Ontario is pleased to endorse Premier Ford and the PC Party of Ontario. No other Premier in our history has done more for the skilled trades and the construction industry,” said Michael Gallardo, President and CEO of Merit Ontario. “Our members are thankful for the Ford government’s historic investments made in infrastructure projects and in skilled trades development and training through the Skills Development Fund while cutting red tape to build up our province. He is a champion for Ontario and the skilled trades!”
Since 2018, the Ontario PCs have supported and invested significantly in the skilled trades, including the following:
- Over $23 million has been invested through the Skills Development Fund to Merit OpenShop which has supported over 200 registered apprentices and more than 12,500 construction employees who have taken Merit Ontario training courses.
- Over $43 million to eight Merit Ontario affiliate members to help more people connect with the skills and training they need for good-paying jobs as leaders in the construction industry.
- 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 $2.5 billion to train more than one 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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