FLMM/CMEC Joint Symposium on Skills

Charlottetown,  July 10, 2014 – Education  and labour market ministers of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories joined  together in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, this week with more than 200 key  business and labour leaders, academics, representatives of student  organizations, and other stakeholders to chart the path forward on aligning  education and skills training systems with the evolving needs of Canadian labour  markets.

Organized  jointly by provinces and territoriesto meet the July 2013 request of Canada’s Premiers, Skills for the  Future included Canadian and international panelists brought together to  share innovative ideas that connect people to jobs, today and to prepare for  the future.

Provinces and territories are committed to ensuring Canadians have the  skills they need to succeed in a global economy and today have taken a critical  step forward by meeting together to define a more unified approach. Ministers  were united in recognizing the importance of working collaboratively with  stakeholders to achieve balance between the immediate needs of employers and  the long-term needs of a prosperous economy and healthy society.

Inspired by  what they heard during the symposium, ministers released a joint declaration  today announcing three principles that will form the basis of future action:

   
• Education  and training must empower Canadians to acquire the skills they need for success  in the job market in a flexible and dynamic environment.
   
• Partnerships  and alignment with business, labour, and education and training providers are  key to ensuring synergy between education and skills training systems and  Canada’s labour markets.
   
• Access  to accurate, relevant, and timely labour market and education data is essential  to support Canadians to make smart career choices, as well as enable government  and business to make evidence-based decisions in planning for the future.

“The Skills  for the Future symposium has served as a catalyst for collaboration among  provinces and territories on the skills and training needs of Canadians in the  21st century,” said the Honourable Jeff Johnson, co-chair of the  event, Chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, and Minister of  Education for Alberta. “As we heard from national and international experts at  the symposium, our education systems are the foundation of Canada’s future  economic and social success. Key for students, government, and business, and  job seekers will be timely communication of labour market information which can  aid in the development of appropriate programs and policies.”

“Provinces and  territories are committed to strong education and training systems that respond  effectively to the labour market conditions of each region of our country,”  said the Honourable Allen Roach, co-chair of the event,  co-chair of the Forum of Labour Market  Ministers (FLMM), and  Minister of  Innovation and Advanced Learning for Prince Edward Island. “Provincial and  territorial labour market ministers look forward to working with their education  colleagues, business, labour, and all those who have a stake in Canada’s  economy to help every Canadian who is looking for work find it, and every  employer has the workers needed for success.”

The outcomes of  the Skills for the Future symposium  will help inform discussions at the federal- provincial/territorial meeting of  the Forum of Labour Market Ministers taking place tomorrow.

Provincial and  territorial education and labour market ministers will report back to Canada’s  Premiers in advance of their meeting in August. Ministers will also recommend  to Canada’s premiers that provinces and territories reconvene to ensure progress  on the actions outlined in the joint declaration as well as to continue  dialogue to determine next action steps.

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Information

Colin Bailey
Director, Communications
Council of Minister of Education, Canada (CMEC)
Tel.: 416-962-8100, ext. 259
Cell: 416-938-1911
E-mail: c.bailey@cmec.ca
Twitter: @CCMEC

Amber  Caseley
Senior  Communications Officer
Department  of Innovation and Advanced Learning
Prince  Edward Island
Tel:  902-620-3774
E-mail: amcaseley@gov.pe.ca