The following statement was issued today by Joan Burke, Minister of Education. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

This week, as incoming chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, I had the honour of addressing over 200 leaders in post-secondary education at a National Dialogue on Higher Education. These meetings focused on the role of post-secondary education in Canada today.

This topic is of great interest to the Council of Ministers of Education. The CMEC recently reaffirmed its commitment to put education at the top of the national agenda. To this end, the ministers have agreed on three key priorities for joint development in the coming years: literacy, Aboriginal education, and post-secondary capacity.

As you are aware, the Council of the Federation � the premiers of every province and territory in our country � has set post-secondary education as a priority. The COF has in turn, tasked the Council of Ministers of Education to take the lead on issues related to post-secondary education - and with good reason.

There is a growing demand for post-secondary education, but our universities and colleges struggle to meet that demand as a result of operating cuts in federal transfers to the provinces and territories in the mid 90s.

The resistance on the part of the federal government to transfer money for post-secondary education is a very real challenge. Although the rhetoric is one of partnership and good will, the experience over the last decade has been a federal government that imposes programs on the provinces, often without sufficient consultation. Quite often, federal sponsorship is for a limited period and is withdrawn with provinces having to pick up the federal share.

Simply put, this level of participation is not enough. It is time now that the federal government recognize the tremendous role the provinces and territories play in educating our citizens, for the benefit of the entire country.

This government has implemented a tuition freeze and is investing $90 million over three years in operating grants and research. Our commitment to ensuring quality post-secondary education is also evident in the many other actions outlined in the White Paper.

Other jurisdictions are undertaking similar reviews of their post-secondary education systems. However, as the incoming chair of the CMEC, I believe it is time for the federal government to provide the financial support needed to ensure quality institutions and programs.

In keeping with direction from the Council of the Federation, education ministers will invite their federal colleagues to discuss the challenges in the post-secondary sector and to consider greater federal involvement. We will work to see relations between the federal government and the provinces and territories improve over the coming years so that we all work together for the good of our students.

2005 11 30                            2:20 p.m.