Colleges Give All Political Parties a Failing Grade:
Campaigns Weak on Post-Secondary Education and Training

Ottawa, January 4, 2006 - Over 150 Canadian colleges and institutes, located in more than 900 communities across the country, have marked a failing grade on the campaign report cards of all the major political parties.

Elections are about the future. But it seems that Canada’s political players have forgotten that post-secondary education and training plays a pivotal role in determining just what type of future can be anticipated.

To date, there has been little mention on the campaign trail of post-secondary education and training as a priority even though it is fundamental to addressing the skills gap, economic competitiveness, immigrant integration to the workforce, the environment, auto industry worker re-training, commercialization of applied research, and daycare programs, all of which have been the campaign issues of choice.

Disregarding the role of post-secondary education and training discounts the fact that Canada’s future growth and prosperity depends on a skilled and knowledgeable modern workforce.

The Association of Canadian Community Colleges and its 150 colleges and institutes across Canada are urging all political parties involved in the upcoming Federal election not to ignore the urgent need to increase funding and transfers to post-secondary education. We encourage party leaders to include this topic in debates, speeches and, most importantly, in their visioning of the skills and education Canadians must be able to access if the promises of the campaign trail are to materialize and be sustainable.

Colleges and institutes of technology are a master key to workforce skills development. Accessible to all Canadians, these institutions train the healthcare workers, daycare providers, radiologists, paramedics, IT workers, media, environmental technicians and technologists, tradespeople and many new immigrants in the range and quality of professions needed to keep Canadians healthy, employed and productive.

Federal transfers to post-secondary education and training are essential and must keep pace with the demand for skilled workers, equipped teaching facilities and innovative applied research and technology diffusion.

Our political leaders will truly demonstrate their depth of vision regarding Canada’s competitiveness when they are prepared to recognize post-secondary education and training as a fundamental factor in the success of all Canadians, and when they recognize Canada’s more than 150 colleges and institutes as a key component in that success.

The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) is the national and international voice of Canada’s public sector post-secondary colleges, institutes of technology, cégeps and university-colleges.

Contact:

Terry Anne Boyles
Vice-President, Member Services and Public Policy
Association of Canadian Community Colleges
Tel.: (613) 746-2222 xt. 2853

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