The Empire Club of Canada
Monday, December 2, 2024
The province has an ambitious plan to build Ontario: from new housing that families can call home, to highways and public transit connecting our communities, and clean energy projects powering our economy.
But with one in three tradespeople nearing retirement, we must pass on the wisdom and expertise of the Golden Generation of Skilled Tradespeople to the next generation of workers and students.
The Empire Club of Canada is honoured to welcome Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, for Tools of the Trade: Ontario’s Blueprint for Prosperity, a keynote address outlining the province’s next steps to grow Ontario’s workforce, and how the province is uniting organized labour and industry to build Ontario’s brighter, stronger future.
Join us on December 2nd with the Hon. David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development, for a much-anticipated discussion on growing the workforce Ontario needs to drive our prosperity and ensure our province continues to be the best place to live, work, and raise a family.
The fireside chat will be moderated by Michael “Pinball” Clemons, General Manager of the Toronto Argonauts and Founder of the Pinball Foundation. This is an event you won’t want to miss!
*The content presented is free of charge but please note that the Empire Club of Canada retains copyright. Neither the speeches themselves nor any part of their content may be used for any purpose other than personal interest or research without the explicit permission of the Empire Club of Canada.*
*Views and Opinions Expressed Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by the speakers or panelists are those of the speakers or panelists and do not necessarily reflect or represent the official views and opinions, policy or position held by The Empire Club of Canada.*
David Piccini is Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development and Member of Provincial Parliament for Northumberland—Peterborough South. He previously served as Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
As Ontario’s Labour Minister, David is working to support and protect workers, help more people find better jobs and bigger paycheques, and connect newcomers with the skills and secure employment they need to start a new life in Ontario. Since becoming Labour Minister, he has introduced nationally-leading measures, such as banning the use of Canadian work experience as a requirement in job postings; requiring menstrual products be provided on larger construction sites; and requiring washrooms provided to workers to be kept clean and sanitary. Strengthening the health and wellbeing of workers and frontline heroes has been a major focus, such as by introducing the highest fines in Canada for bad actor employers who exploit their workers and reducing the duration of service for presumptive skin cancer coverage for firefighters, investigators, and wildland firefighters to 10 years – the lowest duration of service in Canada. Finally, as Labour Minister he has made significant strides to attract, retain, and upskill workers through the $1.4 billion Skills Development Fund, a partner-led program to invest in training local workers and build or expand training infrastructure to fill in-demand careers in the trades.
At the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, David oversaw historic protection of greenspace and biodiversity through record funding to the Greenlands Conservation Partnership Program and began the process of creating two new operating provincial parks – Ontario’s first in forty years. He worked with the steel sector on one of the largest industrial decarbonization projects in Canada’s history – critical to Ontario’s EV automotive supply chain. David also led the transition of Ontario’s blue box program to producer responsibility with some of the highest recycling targets in North America; new clean air standards; and the largest commitment to protect caribou in Ontario’s history.
Before entering politics, David worked for the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada where he helped found the Canadian International Health Education Association.
David is a proud resident of Port Hope, where he currently lives with his wife and two dogs.
One of the most recognizable faces in the Canadian Football League, Michael “Pinball” Clemons has the unique distinction of running for more yards than any player in pro football history. He also has the exclusive honor of being the first Black Head Coach to win the esteemed Grey Cup. Winning eight championships throughout his career in various roles, he continues this pursuit as the current General Manager of the Toronto Argonauts Football Club. With an extensive resume, Pinball has already earned himself a spot as a member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, and the CFL Hall of Fame.
The Dunedin Florida native, and William and Mary graduate, however, is more humbled to have been recognized numerous times for the way he prioritizes community. This includes being a two-time recipient of the CFL’s Man of the Year Award, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal for Community Service, the Meritorious Service Medal, and is a member of the Order of Ontario. His philanthropic efforts matured in 2007, with the establishment of the Pinball Clemons Foundation. PCF has since built more than 200 classrooms in developing countries and currently works locally, in the Greater Toronto Area, to provide career opportunities to marginalized youth.
