Labour/Skills Minister Visits College | St. Clair College
Thursday, March 9, 2023
left to right: Dowie, McNaughton, France and Dilkens
Left to right: Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie, Conservative Minister Monte McNaughton, St. Clair President Patti France and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkins

St. Clair is chiefly regulated and funded by the provincial Ministry of Colleges and Universities, but it also has significant dealings with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development - and, on March 9, it was visited by that agency's head.

Conservative Minister Monte McNaughton - also the MPP for Lambton-Kent-Middlesex - spent 90 minutes at Windsor's South Campus during a half-day visit to the city.

Also in the entourage were Windsor-Tecumseh MPP Andrew Dowie and Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkins.

One of McNaughton's and his ministry's chief focuses during the past several years has been "closing the skills gap": striving to attract more young people to enter the educational and apprenticeship pathways to careers in the skilled trades.

St. Clair used his visit to highlight some of its efforts in that regard.

Coincidentally, an Employment Ontario information session and jobs fair was being held at the college on the 9th, to encourage the college's electrical program students to explore apprenticeship opportunities in that field. McNaughton briefly dropped into that meeting to speak with the assembled students.

Subsequently, he saw some of the college's hands-on skilled trades offerings, and spoke to students and faculty, during a tour of the Ford Centre for Excellence in Manufacturing.

The minister's visit was capped by a luncheon hosted by St. Clair President Patti France.