Maybe I can begin with some answers to those observations.
First of all, if you step back and compare Canada to other OECD countries, we have a pretty good track record on completion of post-secondary education and training. Generally we have a good system. I'm not going to be able to quote the figures to you, but if you want them, I'm sure Barbara or Cliff have them.
On high school dropout rates, yes, it's a problem, but it's actually a problem that's been declining over time. If you look at what the high school dropout rate was 10 years ago and compare it to today, it is coming down. There are pockets of problems, which there always are.
On apprenticeship, we know that entry into apprenticeship does continue to grow by about 2% year over year. But we also know from public opinion surveying that today there are still negative attitudes about the skilled trades among young people--kind of not appreciating the value or the opportunity of training in those areas and then working in those areas.
One thing the federal government has been doing is supporting the Canadian apprenticeship forum over the last couple of years by trying to change those attitudes with a promotion campaign to get the messages out directly to students, teachers, and parents that these really are good, well-paying jobs, and there's certainly a need for pipefitters, tool-and-die makers, and those other trade occupations.
In addition, as recently as the last federal budget, the government announced both an apprenticeship incentive grant to try to assist apprentices with costs in the first couple of years of study, as well as some tax measures to promote the involvement of employers in actually offering apprenticeship opportunities to young people in their workplaces.
Maybe I'll just leave it at that for now.