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September 30, 1999
(Education)


Following is the text of a news release issued following the meeting of Canada's education ministers. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador was represented by Judy Foote, Minister of Education:

Education ministers set priorities for joint action and call for restoration of CHST

At the close of a two-day meeting in Victoria, September 29, ministers of education stated their commitment to quality education, responsiveness to learner needs, accountability, accessibility, and mobility in education.

"The declaration that we are issuing today reaffirms the responsibility of the provinces and territories for education and our leadership in education at the pan-Canadian level, and is consistent with the 1993 Victoria Declaration on shared priorities," said Andrew Petter, British Columbia's Minister of Advanced Education, Training and Technology. Mr. Petter chaired the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) meeting.

Ministers called on the federal government to fully restore the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST), a portion of which is aimed at supporting postsecondary education. They noted that full restoration is essential to ensuring that postsecondary systems continue to have the capacity to respond to the growing demands of a knowledge-based economy and to assist provinces and territories respond to the issue of student debt.

"My colleagues and I want to underline our strong support for the conclusions reached by premiers in August, which included a call for full restoration of CHST, particularly for postsecondary education," said Mr. Petter.

Among the priorities approved, the Victoria Declaration 1999 sets out three specific areas in which the provinces and territories will work together: promoting policy-related research in education, strengthening the postsecondary sector and increasing access, and representing joint education interests at the international level. These priorities represent directions that education ministers have been increasingly pursuing in the past few years in response to changing needs in education.

In a discussion on a range of issues in Aboriginal education, ministers stressed the collaborative efforts required of appropriate jurisdictions to meet the needs of elementary, secondary and postsecondary Aboriginal students. They reiterated the earlier calls of premiers, territorial leaders and national Aboriginal leaders for the federal government to recognize its treaty, constitutional and fiduciary obligations towards all Aboriginal peoples.

Consistent with the work of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers, CMEC approved an agreement in principle on teacher mobility. The agreement is aimed at achieving compliance with the Agreement on Internal Trade. "The population of Canada is increasingly mobile, and teachers are no exception," said Mr. Petter. "When fully implemented, this will go a long way in removing barriers, allowing teachers to relocate in other areas of the country." In a related development, members of CMEC also approved, in principle, a protocol for keeping each other informed about the suspension or cancellation of teaching certificates.

Nunavut, Canada's newest territory, became a member of CMEC at the meeting. "I am delighted that Nunavut has joined CMEC," said James Arvaluk, Nunavut Minister of Education. "I have found our discussions over the past few days to be very helpful, and I look forward to playing an active role in the work of the council."

CMEC is an intergovernmental body made up of the ministers of education and advanced education from the provinces and territories. Through CMEC, ministers share information and undertake projects in areas of mutual interest and concern.

Media contact:

Lara Inglis
CMEC Secretariat
Tel.: (416) 964-2551, ext. 256
E-mail: L.INGLIS@CMEC.CA

Nancy Healey, Director of Communications,
Department of Education
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
(709) 729-0048

1999 09 30                                         10:55 a.m.


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