Ontarians looking to train for in-demand work are being offered up to $28,000 for tuition and up to $500 a week for basic living costs.
The province unveiled the Better Jobs Ontario program Monday morning during an event at Fleming College in Peterborough.
Labour Minister and Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton said it's a plan to help more people achieve the pride and dignity of meaningful work.
"Our message is clear: if you're able to work, Ontario needs you, and we're ready to give you the training you need -- training to earn bigger paycheques, dream big and to build a better life for you and your family."
Starting Friday, the program will fund tuition for training programs of 52 weeks duration or less. McNaughton said the program will also help with writing resumes, buying work boots and transit passes, and working to accommodate people with disabilities.
"Because we know that meaningful work, not social assistance, is our hope, and we have a responsibility to make this hope a lasting reality for more people across Ontario."
McNaugton said there are over 800,000 people on social assistance in Ontario. The province also reported nearly 430,000 unemployed people last month.
McNaughton said the government is trying restore Ontario's place as the economic engine of Canada and that they need all hands on deck to do this.
"With this expansion, we're helping more people than ever before, including people on social assistance, young people, newcomers and those who are self-employed."
McNaughton said each of the jobs going unfilled across Ontario is a paycheque waiting to be collected by someone with the right skills.
