Skelly announces $8.7 million for Heddle Shipyards

Donna Skelly, MPP for Flamborough-Glanbrook, announced Ontario government funding of $8.7 million at Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton for investments in equipment and training on Monday.

The funds will be used to train more than 300 Heddle employees in Hamilton, Port Weller and Thunder Bay on cutting-edge equipment that includes 3D scanning, robotic welding, and augmented reality training equipment.

The funding announcement is part of the Ontario Shipyard Modernization Project, which will help capture federal shipbuilding contracts over the next several decades. Billions of dollars are projected to be spent rebuilding Canada’s naval and Coast Guard fleets.

Heddle is collaborating with Mohawk College, Niagara College, and Confederation College in Thunder Bay to implement a ship repair and shipbuilding pilot course.

BARRY GRAY THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR Shaun Padulo, president of Heddle Shipyards, looks on as MPP Donna Skelly makes the funding announcement at Heddle Shipyards in Hamilton on Monday. The province is committing $8.7 million for developing and implementing the Ontario Shipyard Modernization Project.