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Colleges Ontario is committed to raising the profile of colleges and of the issues in higher education and training.

Colleges applaud McGuinty government's commitment to education and training

TORONTO, June 29, 2005 – Ontario’s 24 colleges of applied arts and technology welcome Hon. Chris Bentley's appointment as Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and applaud the McGuinty government's ongoing commitment to maintaining a skilled and educated workforce.

"Premier Dalton McGuinty and his government are congratulated for taking a long-term approach to training and education," David Lindsay, President of the Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario (ACAATO), says. "We look forward to working with the government as we strive to produce greater numbers of highly skilled graduates for today's high-tech economy. This is critical to increasing Ontario's productivity and ultimately our prosperity."

In May, the government announced a long-term funding commitment to postsecondary education as the centerpiece of its 2005 budget. As well, the government is moving forward with key policy initiatives from the postsecondary review and colleges are eager to work with the minister on these priorities.

Some of the key issues that colleges will be working on with the new minister are:

  • Increasing the percentage of 25- to 34-year olds who obtain a postsecondary education to 70 per cent
  • Making it easier for students to move between colleges and universities
  • Ensuring sustainable, adequate funding for colleges, so that they can continue to provide career-focused applied education and training.

The colleges will also continue to work with the government to assess the workforce requirements in the health care system. Currently, about 70 per cent of health care occupations are trained in Ontario's colleges.

The colleges also applaud Premier McGuinty's commitment to innovation and research. Colleges have an important role to play in applied research and working with the private sector and other partners to bring new innovations and technology to the marketplace.

"The Ontario government is focused on improving productivity in this province, and a skilled and sophisticated workforce will be central to those improvements," Lindsay says. "Ontario colleges are committed to producing the skilled workforce that is needed today and in the years ahead."

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For further information:

Rob Savage
ACAATO Communications
(416) 596-0744, ext. 239