NLIS 2
October 9, 2002
(Education)
(Youth Services and Post-Secondary Education)
(Human Resources and Employment)
 

Education and labour market ministers urge federal government to help
provinces and territories meet challenges in areas of learning and labour market training

Provincial and territorial education and labour market ministers present a shared vision and immediate priorities with regard to post-secondary education and labour market training. Ministers seek to work together and with the federal government on a collaborative approach.

In a paper released today in Winnigeg, entitled Working Together to Strengthen Learning and Labour Market Training, they describe major efforts made by the provinces and territories to enhance their post-secondary education systems and offer a full range of measures to improve labour market training and skills development. The provinces and territories have shown leadership in this area by investing significant resources in their respective systems. Examples of provincial/territorial leadership include the renewal of apprenticeship systems, the removal of barriers to mobility, and high participation rates in post-secondary education.

The paper released today is a call to the federal government to cooperate closely with the provinces and territories to adequately meet Canadians� growing post-secondary education and labour market training needs. The provinces and territories have identified four key priorities for action which could be supported by the federal government:

1. Enhancing the capacity of the post-secondary education sector;
2. Strengthening workforce development;
3. Providing funding for measures to help expand Internet access and meet the needs of each province and territory in regard to on-line learning connectivity;
4. Encouraging the full integration of under-represented groups in the labour market.

Ministers call on the federal government to support these priorities through mechanisms already in place or through alternative mechanisms agreed to bilaterally with provinces and territories.

"The provincial and territorial education and labour market ministers call for flexible federal financial support for the key priorities identified. This collaboration would allow us to improve our post-secondary education and labour market training systems to guarantee that we will have access to a skilled workforce so that we can remain competitive in the global market. It is time for action. We must work together," said Dianne Cunningham, chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), and Ontario�s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.

"We have transmitted our joint paper to the Honourable Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development" reported Diane McGifford, provincial-territorial co-chair of the Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM) and Manitoba�s Minister of Advanced Education and Training. "My colleagues and I are convinced that Minister Stewart will cooperate with us in moving forward on the key priorities we have outlined, which are of critical importance to all Canadians."

Copies of Working Together to Strengthen Learning and Labour Market Training are available on the following Web site: www.cmec.ca

Media contact:

Provincial and Territorial Labour Market Ministers
Elaine Phillips
(204) 945-8504

ephillips@gov.mb.ca

Council of Ministers of Education, Canada
Boyd Pelley
(416) 962-8100, ext. 241

b.pelley@cmec.ca

2002 10 09                                        12:05 p.m.


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