Post-Secondary Education in Federated States

Speaking Notes for The Honourable Monte Solberg Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Joint Conference Organized by the Forum of Federations and Human Resources and Social Development Canada Post-Secondary Education in Federated States Gatineau , Quebec January 15, 2007

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Introduction

Thank you for that kind introduction. This is my first opportunity to speak since assuming my new portfolio responsibilities earlier this month as Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. I am delighted to be able to address such a distinguished audience of experts from across Canada and around the world.

Thank you for having me here. I would like to thank the Forum of Federations for inviting Human Resources and Social Development Canada to work with its members in organizing this conference.

A River that Connects

I especially want to extend a warm welcome to those of you who are here in our national capital region for the first time. As many of you may be aware, Ottawa and Gatineau began as lumber towns. A hundred and 50 years ago, the rivers here were the conduit for business – as lumber was shipped downriver on its way to Europe . We can say that those rivers were our link to the 19 th century’s global economy.

Today, the economy here no longer depends on lumber – like so many other cities around the world, the economy depends on knowledge resources:

• the knowledge of the people who work in the information and communications industries;
• the knowledge of people who come from across Canada to work for the federal government;
• and the knowledge of people who research, teach and learn in post secondary education

So this is a very good place – a place full of symbolism – to talk about the challenges and opportunities that federated states play in promoting post secondary education. And to underline, as well, that Canada ’s New Government has been busy over the last year creating opportunities for Canadians so we can continue to have the highest labour market participation rate in the OECD.

A Source of Competitive Strength

The ability of the federal and provincial governments to work together – has meant that we have one of the best educated populations in the world. Today, 44% of Canadians have a post‑secondary degree.

Our success is a source of competitive advantage in a knowledge economy, but it is more than that. Our post-secondary education institutions are sources of ideas and innovation – creative energy that drives our economy. Post-secondary education also contributes to the well-being of individuals and their communities. It has a positive impact on the health of Canadians. It helps build a more vibrant, open-minded and better and stronger society. A post-secondary education makes Canadians more likely to volunteer in their community, more likely to vote in our elections, and more likely to become engaged in the world around them.

But how does Canada manage jurisdictional divisions? Both the federal and provincial governments have important roles to play in supporting post-secondary education. The federal government is a long-standing contributor to post-secondary education in Canada . The system of universities and colleges that exists today reflects decades of collaboration and cooperation between the two orders of government.

The federal government transfers funds to the provinces to support post-secondary education – funds that the provinces in turn invest according to their priorities and needs. Canada ’s New Government, recently invested $1 billion in a trust fund to modernize the infrastructure of universities and colleges. All levels of government have a responsibility to work together to show that their investments are producing results for all Canadians.

Federal investments also support excellence in research, helping to keep Canada at the forefront of technology and innovation.

Federal funding also provides student financial assistance in the form of loans and grants, as well as education tax credits. We’re helping break down financial barriers to securing a post-secondary education, opening doors for students and helping families build a better future.

In Budget 2006, we introduced two important programs for students in post-secondary schools: one was to allow more students to receive student assistance through the Canada Student Loans Program, and one was to increase bursaries and grant programs to students.

Challenges

This is a good record. But there is more to do. Globalization, the knowledge economy and dramatic shifts in our demographics have changed the rules of the game. And even with Canada ’s current advantages in post-secondary education, we risk falling behind.

Some people in Canada are still finding it challenging to access education, and to pay for it. Aboriginal Canadians, for example, are under-represented in our post-secondary system.

Over the last decade, tuition fees and student debt loads have risen dramatically. Too many families are finding cost a barrier to post secondary education. If costs keep students out of school, it is the entire country that loses – we can’t afford to miss out on opportunities to strengthen our skills and knowledge base.

Canada ’s post-secondary education system is largely designed for younger learners. But I would point out that we have a significant and growing need for adult education, particularly in job-related education and training. If we’re going to keep our labour force competitive, we need to draw stronger links between post-secondary education and the labour market.

Advantage Canada

Two months ago, Canada ’s New Government set out an economic roadmap for competitiveness which we called the “Advantage Canada ” strategy. One of the components of the Advantage Canada strategy is to strengthen our country’s Knowledge Advantage – that is, to develop the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world.

We want to get there by increasing the quantity of people in the workforce, improving the quality of people in the workforce, and improving the efficiency of the labour market.

To make progress we’ll need a strong post-secondary education system. And so, we have committed to:

• strengthen the quality and competitiveness of the post-secondary education system by providing stable and predictable funding to provinces and territories;
• work with the provinces and territories to develop shared objectives, clarify roles and responsibilities, and enhance public accountability;
• modernize our student financial assistance program; and
• attract the best and brightest from around the world to study here. In fact, just last April, as the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, I announced the start of the Off-Campus work permit program. Now, International students in Canada can gain work experience in our labour market and earn extra income while studying.

Our emphasis on the quality of our workforce is not limited to post-secondary institutions. We also want to encourage Canadians to enter the trades. As laid out in Budget 2006 we have created Apprenticeship Incentive Grants and an Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit.

Lifelong learning is critical, and it is important to start as early as possible. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper, our Government has taken steps to ensure Canadian children get a good start in life. Since July, parents of children under six have been receiving $100 per child each month under the Universal Child Care Benefit.

These are concrete steps to give Canada the best educated, most skilled, most flexible workforce in the world.

I’m Here to Listen

But our purpose in joining with the Forum of Federations in organizing this seminar is to listen to your perspectives and advice.

Each country represented here today has its own unique historical characteristics, which prompted the creation of your federation.

Each has its own approach to post-secondary education. Each approach includes local or regional governments.

I know there is a lot we can learn from each other. I’m interested in your views on how a federal system can address the many challenges of post-secondary education. I’m interested in your suggestions and ideas on ways for roles and responsibilities to respond to ever-changing realities.

Conclusion

As Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, I am excited by this opportunity to build a stronger post-secondary education system. This system is essential to our economic success and the development of our society.

A few years ago, I went to visit Augustana University in Camrose, in my home province of Alberta . That’s the community where my Norwegian great grandparents settled over a hundred years ago.

• I wandered into the foyer of the university and I saw on the wall a ledger that listed the original donors to the college – founded in 1910. There on the list were the names of my great grandfather Nils and my great uncle Matt.

You can imagine, that Camrose in 1910, like Ottawa and Gatineau in 1860, was not a community that an outsider would have described as a place of great learning. But it was a community where the people had an abiding respect for education and learning.

I wonder what our great-grandchildren will think when they look back at our contributions to Canada . My hope is that they will look back and see that we made the choices in the early 21 st century that kept Canada at the forefront in a world where education was the key to economic prosperity and social understanding. A Canada where education was the key to building a stronger, safer and better country - well suited to meeting the challenges of a fast-changing world.

When we gather like this to exchange ideas and share best practices, we take big steps for realizing that vision. I am delighted you have gathered to share your views and look forward to officials from my department briefing me on the outcomes of today’s deliberations. I hope that this conference will provide you with new ideas. Have a great conference and good luck in your discussions.

Thank you.

• Picture of the Minister Solberg at the conference