06/19/2026
Ontario is continuing to quietly but aggressively build the foundation of its advanced manufacturing and EV economy.
In June 2026, the province announced new investments through the Critical Minerals Innovation Fund, supporting projects that strengthen Ontario’s domestic supply chain for materials like lithium, copper, and other inputs essential to EVs, batteries, and advanced manufacturing.
While the focus is often on mining and extraction, the real impact runs much deeper.
These investments directly fuel demand across:
* Mechanical, industrial, and automation engineering
* Millwrights, electricians, welders, and machinists
* Construction and industrial maintenance roles
* Robotics, controls, and advanced manufacturing specialists
As Ontario works to localize and de-risk its supply chains, more value-added production is staying in-province, which means more skilled labour is required at every stage of manufacturing.
At the same time, we continue to see a widening gap between industrial investment and workforce availability. Capital is moving quickly. Talent pipelines are not.
The organizations that will stay ahead in this environment are those that treat workforce strategy as seriously as production strategy, investing in training, apprenticeship pathways, retention, and long-term capability building.
Because in advanced manufacturing right now, the constraint is no longer demand or investment. It’s skilled people.
Our Talent is Finding Yours. https://www.itecgroup.ca/contact