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flag Ontario passes bill letting skilled trades training centres bypass local zoning laws to speed up workforce development.

flag Ontario has passed a labour bill exempting training centres funded by the Skills Development Fund from municipal planning and zoning laws to speed up workforce development in skilled trades. flag The move, aimed at addressing a looming retirement wave among tradespeople, allows private entities like unions and employers to bypass local approvals for facility construction or renovation. flag While the government insists projects still comply with building, fire, and health codes and undergo third-party reviews, municipalities and opposition parties have raised concerns about weakened oversight, lack of public consultation, and risks to infrastructure and flood prevention. flag The auditor general previously found the fund’s disbursement process lacked transparency, though the capital stream wasn’t reviewed. flag The bill passed unanimously, with the NDP supporting it in exchange for layoff protections.

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