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MEETING BETWEEN DIANE MCGIFFORD, MANITOBA MINISTER OF ADVANCED EDUCATION AND TRAINING, AND JEAN-MARC FOURNIER, QUEBEC MINISTER OF EDUCATION, RECREATION AND SPORTS

Wednesday, September 14, 2005

QUEBEC CITY, Sept. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - In preparation for the meeting of the provincial and territorial ministers of education, labour and finance to be held in October at the request of the Council of the Federation, Diane McGifford, Manitoba Minister of Advanced Education and Training, met in Winnipeg with Jean-Marc Fournier, Chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), and Québec Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports. Their discussions provided the two ministers with an opportunity to review the issues and challenges facing their respective provinces in the areas of post-secondary education and training and to consider the agenda for the October meeting, which will deal with the funding of post-secondary education and training.

Following a previous meeting with the education ministers of the Atlantic provinces and today's session with Ms. McGifford, Mr. Fournier observed that common problems, such as labour shortages in sensitive economic areas, were already emerging. Since the demand for high tech competencies continues to grow in all sectors, the number of new graduates will have to follow suit.

In Québec, one of the challenges facing higher education is the growing importance of the biomedical and biotechnology sectors. In 1991, 17 biotechnology companies provided 250 jobs. In 2000, following very rapid growth in this area, 90 health sector companies created 2500 jobs. "In order to carry out research, promote innovation and bring products to market, universities must receive the funding they need to train competent scientists in sufficient numbers," Mr. Fournier stated.

"In Manitoba, we are seeing record enrolments at universities and colleges as a result of our government's efforts to make post-secondary education affordable and accessible. We are also working with industry partners to provide cost-effective training and encourage young people to consider careers in high-demand skill areas," McGifford said. "These efforts coupled with initiatives to increase high school completion rates in Aboriginal and other groups are building our workforce to participate fully in today's knowledge-based economy," said Minister McGifford.

The two ministers agreed that dialogue among the provinces, territories and federal government was the key to success in meeting the challenges facing post-secondary education. Indeed, collaboration with the federal government is essential to enable the latter to reinvest in education while at the same time respecting provincial jurisdictions.

Finally, it should be noted that at its meeting in Banff on August 12, the Council of the Federation also agreed to hold a Summit on Post-secondary Education and Training with a view to paving the way for a future in which Canada continues to be a competitive player in the global economy.

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For further information: Stéphane Gosselin, Press attaché to the Minister of Education, Recreation and Sports, (418) 644-0664