For Immediate Release

August 26, 2005

PEOPLE IN KINGSTON TO BENEFIT FROM INCREASED ACCESS TO APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING
Ontario investing $13.6 million to Expand Co-op Diploma Program

KINGSTON – A $1,117,200 investment in St. Lawrence College will train 76 more apprentices starting this year under the McGuinty government’s expanded Co-op Diploma Apprenticeship Program, MPP John Gerretsen, announced today on behalf of Chris Bentley Minister of Training Colleges and Universities.

“Today’s announcement is great news for our trade programs at St. Lawrence College,” said Gerretsen. Creating more opportunities for people to train as apprentices will help boost our local businesses and ultimately help build a stronger economy.”

The program-funding breakdown is as follows:

Automotive service Technician/Motive Power technician $330,000
Cook and Culinary Management $457,200
Industrial Mechanic Millwright/Mechanical technician $330,000

The funding is part of a program announced today by Chris Bentley, the Ontario Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. The Ontario government will invest nearly $13.6 million over four years in 31 projects at 18 colleges beginning in September. The program will enable 1,000 students across Ontario to obtain a college diploma while training as an apprentice in nine specific trades including:

· Automotive service technician/motive power technician
· Heavy duty equipment technician/motive power technician
· Industrial mechanic millwright/manufacturing engineering technician
· Truck and coach technician/motive power technician

“In today’s knowledge economy, education and a skilled workforce are prerequisites for sustained prosperity. But education is more than that, it is the measure of our commitment to opportunity – the foundation of an engaged citizenry and a strong democracy,” said Bentley.

                                         - 30 -