Human Resources committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for your invitation to appear before you today. We're very pleased to be here, and we commend you for undertaking this study. The study has two points of focus. The first is fixing the skills gap. The second seems to be about dealing with short

Finance committee  Well, I think you'd have to look at some of the pure research programs that are very costly and often produce no economic outcomes. They're all very interesting, but will they produce an economic outcome? I think we have to think about our investments in research in relation to e

Finance committee  I want to emphasize that there is a lot of private sector engagement with colleges, but I think this is an interesting thought that we should explore further. I think there's an opportunity here.

Finance committee  We could have further discussion on this, though.

Finance committee  Absolutely. The knowledge infrastructure program was widely celebrated across Canada. It really made a difference, and we were proud to be a participant in it. The first program you referenced is more targeting universities than colleges, although I have to say that there have b

Finance committee  I think you've identified one of the great strengths of the college system. Engagement with local businesses is very much a part of the culture, part of the strategy. I think in your part of the country, you're uniquely situated to do that, because you have these very large indus

Finance committee  Well, if every part of the country had the dimensions of economic success of your part of the country, it would be easy. It's a little more difficult in other environments; it's clearly more difficult. Why are people coming out of Nova Scotia without the right education for your

Finance committee  As you suggest, our statistics in this area are quite weak. We are working closely with Statistics Canada to improve their output in relation to the needs of our institutions. But on a micro level, you mentioned a particular campus of the Nova Scotia community colleges. The adm

Finance committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope that our input will help you in your efforts to ensure continued economic recovery and, most importantly, to create sustainable employment. The Association of Canadian Community Colleges is the voice of Canada's publicly funded colleges and technic

Finance committee  Well, capacity limitations are a really big problem. Some provinces have turned away thousands and thousands of qualified students from colleges, because they are at capacity. The increase in enrollment this year was quite dramatic, and that's both a good thing and a bad thing. S

Finance committee  That's because the resources will allow for an expansion of capacity. I don't pretend this is going to be easy and there won't be tensions, but we have to go somewhere for support.

Finance committee  Well, that's the other side of the coin. With the new experience class for immigrants, they will have much more opportunity to remain in Canada, which does address the demographic challenges that we point out.

Finance committee  Thank you for the question. The federal government has had many vehicles for participating in education that have been accepted and welcomed by all provinces. Recently, Quebec welcomed the knowledge infrastructure program and the college and community innovation program, and the

Finance committee  I find learning is absolutely critical in a world that changes so quickly and in an economy where we really can't predict what the jobs of tomorrow will be. One of the things that colleges do, I think reasonably well, is keep in touch with employers and try to stay on top of tr

Finance committee  Well, there are many. One is poor K to 12 education. Another is financial, and that's what we spoke to. Another is cultural--ensuring that the cultural facilities in the institution are welcoming and reflect the aboriginal need. I want to say that a number of colleges have done