OTTAWA- On the heels of a national Skills and Trades Tour, Liberal Leader Bob Rae today spoke to the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) about the vital role that community colleges play in ensuring the development of a skilled workforce and a sustainable economy.
“Throughout my career, and most recently in January, I have had the opportunity to visit many of the country’s innovative programs and facilities that are providing cutting-edge training in the skills and trades,” said Mr. Rae. “What is evident is that our colleges, training centres and polytechnic institutes are uniquely positioned to respond to today’s economic realities, and then quickly realign their courses, curriculum and research facilities to meet the evolving needs of our employers and businesses.”
Mr. Rae noted that the current system needs urgent targeted investments in order to maximize the ability of our colleges and polytechnic institutes to produce an appropriately skilled workforce and transfer the knowledge gained in our colleges and institutions to the Canadian business community. This means investing in physical capacity, entrepreneurship and applied research, and finding ways to increase the participation of underrepresented groups, such as aboriginal people, in college programs.
“Right now, across Canada, community colleges and training centres are securing Canada’s place in the global marketplace,” said Mr. Rae. “These programs need our continued investment so that we can ensure our future shared prosperity.”
On the recent Liberal Skills and Trades Tour, Mr. Rae visited several ACCC member colleges, as well as institutions and community groups in Ontario, New Brunswick, Quebec and British Columbia. This focus on jobs, training and learning will continue.
