Advisory Advisory: Ontario is appointing a special skilled trades advisor to help advance the automotive sector

Toronto, Ontario – The Government of Ontario has announced that it is appointing Dave Cassidy, former president of Unifor Local 444, as Special Adviser on Skilled Trades (STSA) to the Minister of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development.

According to a recent press release, in his new position, Cassidy will “assess labor needs in Ontario’s skilled trades, focusing on the manufacturing and automotive industries, including electric vehicles (EV).”

As special adviser on skilled trades, Cassidy will also reportedly “work to ensure Ontario is well-positioned to respond to the rapid growth and expansion of (Ontario’s) manufacturing and automotive sectors.”

The announcement also noted that Cassidy’s “expert advice will be complemented by ongoing and robust stakeholder consultation that will serve to identify issues, challenges and areas for improvement within Ontario’s skilled trades and apprenticeship system.”

“Ontario’s future is bright and skilled workers are an essential part of that future,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government has attracted $43 billion in investment in advanced manufacturing, including auto and electric vehicle makers. As these sectors grow, we need to prepare our skilled workforce for the jobs of today and tomorrow, and that starts with figuring out where those jobs are and how we can build a talent pipeline to fill them.”

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