Originally published in The Hill Times
In its September 2020 Speech from the Throne, the Federal government committed to making “the largest investment in Canadian history in training for workers.” That investment will be crucial to achieving the ambitious Federal goal of creating over one million jobs in order to restore employment to pre-pandemic levels.
Simply put, achieving that goal will require cooperation between governments, educators, and industry. The government needs to identify partners that can maximize the impact of Federal spending on workforce training. In particular, in order for a generational investment in training to have deep and lasting effects, it needs to fund inclusive skills programs that prepare workers for the green, sustainability-focussed jobs of today and the future. That kind of approach will be especially crucial to training Indigenous peoples and young Canadians who are looking for ways to succeed in a changing economy.
As governments know, workers must also be the cornerstone for building a stronger and more resilient economy in the aftermath of COVID-19. To ensure that workers enjoy the full benefits of the recovery from COVID-19, governments, educators, and employers need to collaborate on projects that will create and maintain good jobs, are good for the environment, are inclusive, and address socio-economic inequality.
The needs for sustainable job creation will vary across the country. But, from developing brand new curriculum for people entering the emerging hydrogen sector in Alberta to offering programs to update workers’ skills for the growing electric vehicle manufacturing industry in Ontario, the opportunities are endless.
Some stakeholder groups are already looking for ways to partner with government on meeting that challenge and exploring the associated opportunities. For instance, Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery (C2R2) is a group of colleges, CEGEPs, training institutions, and polytechnics from across the country that have joined forces to educate a post-pandemic workforce to support a climate-focused economic recovery from COVID-19.
With Federal partnership, C2R2 members stand ready to rapidly train workers across Canada, including people who are currently under-represented in the workforce, to meet skills gaps for a climate-resilient economy. We will help our communities revive and develop Canadian businesses through applied solutions to sustainability challenges. And our members will work with local industry and governments to serve as testing sites for innovative climate change solutions.
The Federal government could support that work in many ways, from funding rapid training programs to ensuring that training credits and grants allow for students to continue working while they gain new skills. But the bottom line is that educators need support to skill-up the workforce of tomorrow – which is why we are excited by the Government’s commitment to generational investments in Canadian workers.
The goals are ambitious, but we have to be ambitious to succeed and ensure a strong, resilient recovery for Canada. Canadian colleges have always risen to the challenge of ensuring that Canadian workers are trained for the jobs of tomorrow. We stand ready to get that job done once again.
By Ron McKerlie | Ron McKerlie is Chair of Canadian Colleges for a Resilient Recovery and President of Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario
Partnerships and cutting-edge technology have helped Algonquin College support students, the community and the wider economy during COVID-19
“Post-secondary institutions can retain and enhance the goodwill they have earned as active participants in their communities through this crisis by sharing their expertise,” said Claude Brulé, Algonquin College President and Chief Executive Officer.
Algonquin’s expertise has focused on improving educational experiences and economic opportunities. This includes Indigenous education and training and health-care initiatives, such as:
Partnering with Ottawa Tourism on an Indigenous Tourism Entrepreneurship Training initiative, which will support Indigenous entrepreneurs in the creation and development of their own business and tourism ideas.
Leading a federally-funded, $8.2-million, national job-readiness program for Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit youth. Indigenous YouthBuild Canada brings several First Nations communities together with post-secondary institutions, government, and corporate partners to help more than 400 youth acquire job-ready skills.
Leading a $2.5-million program to provide more than 250 Indigenous youth across Canada with on the job, hands on training and employment skills related to the impact or effects of the pandemic.
Donating thousands of pieces of protective equipment and loaning out ventilators to help local health-care facilities.
We are all in this together and Algonquin College wanted to give back. We do all we can to support the community
Experiential learning and innovative technology are also crucial elements in Algonquin’s efforts to support students and employers. Recent initiatives include:
Partnering with Ciena, one of the region’s biggest tech employers, to enhance the Ottawa campus’ Optophotonics Lab. The upgrade provides students with training on state-of-the-art telecommunications equipment and will help them find career success.
The Cooperative Education Department creating a new work option for students – Entrepreneurship Co-op, or eCo-op – as a proactive response to the pandemic. eCo-op students are their own bosses, partnering with a mentor to develop a business strategy or a business plan.
The College’s new Corporate Training centre launching free, virtual courses to give back to the community during the pandemic.
Preparing to launch a new Cyber Security Analyst Graduate Certificate Program to meet the needs of this rapidly growing job market.
Opening AC Online, the College’s new, digital-only campus, to meet increasing demand for flexible, personalized and quality online education.
Implementing a summer pilot program that saw more than 600 students return to campus to safely complete hands-on components of their programs.
A pan-Canadian coalition of colleges, cégeps, institutes and polytechnics supporting a climate-focused economic recovery.
