Mr. Speaker, in November 2006 the government presented “Advantage Canada”, our national economic plan.
One of the objectives set out in “Advantage Canada” is for Canada to have the best educated, most skilled and most flexible labour force in the world.
This is good news for the riding I represent and for all of Hamilton, which includes four post-secondary educational institutions: McMaster University, McMaster Divinity College, Mohawk College and Redeemer University College.
Since being in government, we have increased transfer support to the provinces for post-secondary education by $800 million per year, starting this year, with a guaranteed increase of 3% per year until 2014.
Our contribution to post-secondary education through the Canada social transfer program totals $3.2 billion in this fiscal year alone. As well, we are committing $123 million over four years, starting next year, to streamline and modernize the Canada student loans program.
As McMaster University President Peter George said: “...the strong signals in the federal budget about the government's commitment to supporting universities and the important role they play in Canada's economic prosperity were welcome indeed”.