In that case, I would like to focus on an issue that troubles me greatly. A large number of Canadians have no jobs, yet there is a growing number of job vacancies. That is a paradox that has to be resolved.
It's a really complex problem. As we all know, the aggregate labour market information we see from StatsCan suggests that there is not a grave or identifiable labour or skill shortage, and yet every single employer whom I meet and many unions tell me, particularly in the construction trades, for example, that they are currently experiencing very significant labour and skill shortages.
This is an issue I've taken up with my provincial counterparts. I hope in my capacity to lead something of an informed national conversation on how we can do a better job, not just the federal government but also the provinces, educators, employers and unions, all of us together, in ensuring that Canadians have the skills necessary for the labour market and the economy of the future. It is unacceptable that we should see 13% youth unemployment, 14% unemployment amongst recent immigrants, and ridiculous levels of unemployment among aboriginal Canadians in the labour force precisely when we see employers complaining persistently about labour and skill shortages.
I don't have time, obviously, to go into my detailed thoughts about some of the remedies, but I want to invite members of the committee to propose what they think are solutions: how we can increase labour force participation, mobility, interprovincial labour mobility, mutual recognition of credentials for professions and trades, accelerated foreign credential recognition for foreign-trained professionals; how we can perhaps have a stronger partnership with the provinces in the large transfers we give them through the Canada social transfer for post-secondary education to ensure that those dollars are getting maximum bang for the taxpayer's buck in preparing people for jobs; how we can ensure that ideas like the Canada job grant actually prepare people for real jobs and not fictitious ones, real ones in the labour market through an employer-led program; how we can increase private sector investment in skills development and job training.
I think we need to be imaginative. I think we need to look beyond Canada to some other countries that perhaps have stronger models of education and skills development for the labour market.
I just wanted to touch on that as a key priority for me, Chairman. I look forward to all of your questions. Merci beaucoup.