I'm not sure I can give you all the explanations, especially not in the limited amount of time we have here today. What really struck me was that we had young 14- and 15-year-olds talking to us at one point, saying, “I have chosen this career. I have chosen this company. I am working here. I am proud. I am learning and working in this company.” It was in Siemens. It was in STIHL.
In Canada, you talk to 21-year-olds and they say, “I'm trying to find myself, and for that I'm getting a political science degree.” The government is supporting that process for our public institutions. We're not going to change that in Canada. I think we're far beyond the ability to change that. It would be a complete rethink of our educational system right from the get-go.
As you know, the provincial governments are very keen on making sure that the federal government is absolutely not involved in education. We saw that with the training issues. I don't think the federal government can go to a provincial government and say, “Can we talk about elementary schools?” That may create a few other constitutional issues.
It absolutely has to start early on. The one thing that is extremely important is the role of the employers, and the role of the government as well, in instilling pride in people in various professions. Minister Diane Finley, whom I met last year, talked to us about professional skilled trades, so skilled professionals. You gain skills, but you're a professional. It's not because you're a plumber that you're not professional.
Let's make sure that there is pride in those professions, and maybe the kids will go and do other things. Right now, I think the parents are telling them, “You have to become a lawyer. You have to become a doctor.”