Regional councillors say they want to put their money where their mouths are.
The Region of Waterloo says it would like to see more people from more walks of life finding good, long-term work in the skilled trades, so, it's launching a new pilot program aimed at offering contractors a financial incentive to make it happen.
"[To] support contractors who take initiatives to hire, to train, and to hopefully retain those workers," Coun. Mike Harris said during Wednesday's council meeting.
The goal is essentially to target anyone who might look at a construction site now and feel, for one reason or another, they are not represented.
The region suggests these include women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, newcomers and new immigrants, 2SLGBTQ+ people, veterans, racialized people, Ontario Works recipients, and "other groups who have been historically underrepresented and/or face systematic barriers."
The pilot, meantime, will see contractors receive up to $100,000 per tender.
On top of helping more people get into the trades and to find good-paying long-term work, the region is also hoping the pilot helps fill some gaps in the local industry itself.
"There is a significant demand and need for workers on every type of project whether it be civil, IC&I (Industrial, Commercial, and Institutional), or even local residential sites," Harris said.
The pilot project is currently specific to two affordable housing builds at 416 Kingscourt Dr. in Waterloo and at 82 Wilson Ave. in Kitchener.
