Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good afternoon, members of the committee.
Polytechnics Canada is the collective voice of Canada's eight public polytechnic institutions, nationally and internationally. Located in the regions that drive the Canadian economy and working in close collaboration with industry both in curriculum development and applied research, our members play a pivotal role in providing education, training, and research solutions to industry's problems.
We believe there are four fundamental actions that should be taken to strengthen the Canadian economy and secure the future prosperity of Canadians.
Number one, we should abandon attitudes that view some education sectors and types of learning as superior to others, and promote a full range of learning that is market responsive. The number of Canadians who think they need to go to university is out of proportion with the number of jobs that require a university education. As recently stated by Mr. Laurie Hawn, Conservative MP for Edmonton Centre and spokesperson for western economic diversification: “Without the availability of skilled workers, our economy won't be as strong as it should be.” We need workers who can transform new technologies and processes into improved productivity--water welders, radiologists, petroleum engineering technologists and technicians, palliative care nurses, and civil engineers--the very people who polytechnic institutions are training across Canada and internationally.
Number two, we should eradicate cross-jurisdictional barriers to student and worker mobility. Currently, Canada does not have a national credit transfer system, with the result that students have difficulty transferring from one region of the country or from one level of education to another. For example, in certain provinces, students who have applied degree programs at polytechnic institutions are often prevented from transferring into university bachelor programs, because their credits are not recognized. Similarly, graduates of polytechnics who want to pursue graduate studies are often forced to go outside of Canada, to universities in the United States and the United Kingdom, because Canadian university graduate programs will not accept their credentials.
In response to this, members of Polytechnics Canada have adopted protocols that will allow for the complete transferability of credits between members and are instituting their own graduate programs. We should maximize and leverage the ability of these institutions to provide cross-jurisdictional mobility training to apprentices, technicians, technologists, nurses, and other skilled workers, so that we can address local shortages and facilitate cross-jurisdictional mobility of the knowledge workers needed in crisis sectors across this country.
Number three, we must encourage private sector investment in workplace training by providing sufficient financial support to those institutions that are best positioned to provide market-responsive education and training. The recent announcement of a one-time $1 billion investment in post-secondary infrastructure is a positive step but will only enhance the capacity to provide market-responsive education and training if the funds are apportioned in a manner that adequately supports those institutions that are best positioned to provide comprehensive market responsive education and training. As governments do not have unlimited funds or the organizational structure to do it alone, we need to work in partnership with all levels of government, the private sector, and with those institutions that have the expertise to provide skilled workers nationally.
The recent announcement by a member of NAIT, Shell Canada, and the provincial government is an excellent example of what we need to be doing. It acknowledges the key role played by institutions like NAIT in providing the trades, technologists, and operators needed by industry and seeks to leverage that resource by the joint investment of government and the private sector. This is the model that should be mirrored across the country with all eight polytechnics, which have the proven track record of providing Canadian businesses, locally and nationally, with the trained workers they need.
Number four, we must produce more market-driven research by supporting those institutions that have the ability to work with industry and provide solutions to industry problems. While a solid foundation has been established for basic research, we have not invested enough in helping businesses, particularly SMEs, find solutions to their business problems. We have to adopt a different approach, one that is driven by industry problems rather than one that creates an idea and looks for a market. We need to invest more in applied research and development in terms of prototype development and commercial validation studies.
An excellent example of what I'm talking about is the Dr. Tong Louie Living Laboratory at our member BCIT. The living lab conducts research and training activities that aim to improve the relationship between people and their living and working environments. Its goal is to create products that facilitate independent living sensitive to the needs of older adults and the disabled.
Thank you.