When I wrote this, Ontario was in the midst of an unprecedented jobs crisis and in need of sensible and affordable solutions. One avenue is to improve our colleges and universities.
Ontario’s system of higher learning must reflect the requirements of jobs in the present and the future. And it must reflect today’s economic realities.
Students recognize an academic education is often not enough – it must be coupled with employable skills. Some 80 percent of college applicants cite “career preparation” as a major reason for enrollment – something they may not have considered when they were making their post-secondary choices in high school.
The path from high school graduation to employment is often far longer and more expensive than it needs to be, thus inefficient for both the student and taxpayer.
Currently 35 percent of all new jobs in Ontario go to college graduates and apprentices, and only 26 percent go to university graduates. Many university students end up in the college system after learning how adept it is at teaching job-ready skills. To encourage more students to choose college first, we must create more options and paths for these students and improve the credit transfer system in Ontario. This would allow for part of the degree to be done at the college level and part of the education delivered through a university.
By improving the credit transfer system using online education to create bridging courses between institutions, students who take a course at one institution can be brought up to speed at another – – smoothing the move between institutions that deliver different course content. The online courses should be designed to assess whether students meet the standard at the new institution, whether they are moving from a college to a university or from a university to another university.
We need to be creative with programs that meet the expectations of students but also offer them at an affordable price.
In response to the growing demand for online learning, university and college programs can be taken at home using the internet. Universities and colleges do offer degree programs online that are flexible, cost effective and allow you to learn on your own time. They feature online instructors who help and provide feedback as you progress through the course.
We should encourage colleges to offer applied three-year degrees and limit the proliferation of four-year degrees in the college system. For example, a Bachelor of Applied Technology Degree is designed to teach leadership roles in the construction industry – – a program that meets a job market need, and is clearly suited to the college sector. Encouraging more three-year degrees like this one would allow colleges to cater to a student market looking for strong credentials without creeping into the degree market best served by universities.
Career colleges have a strong proven track record and are among our province’s most efficient paths to employment. They should be rewarded by a reduction in the costly and time-consuming regulatory burden they currently experience so they can be freed to take on students looking to gain access to the job market.
With these sensible and affordable solutions, improving Ontario’s colleges and universities will most certainly lead to better jobs. For the Silo, Haldimand-Norfolk MPP Toby Barrett.
Supplemental- Online learning in Ontario http://www.ontariolearn.com/en/
Premier to Barrett: We will promote the skilled trades
QUEEN’S PARK – For the past 15 years, trades people, employers and apprentices have been burdened by a mismanaged skill trades framework.
During Question Period, i asked Premier Doug Ford how the Ontario Government plans to modernize the skilled trades framework. i told him, the skilled trades are critical to our economy, yet so many jobs are going unfilled. I’ve heard from employers in my riding of Haldimand-Norfolk who are frustrated—the red tape and stifling regulations the previous skilled trades framework created and the lack of action by the previous government to make life easier for those in the trades.
In response Premier Ford explained, “through our budget of 2019, we passed the Modernizing the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act, which will reduce red tape for employers and apprentices, streamline services and delivery and help promote the tremendous career opportunities that the skilled trades offer.”
It is projected that by 2021 one in five jobs will be in the skilled trades. I’m very proud our government recognizes this urgent need to fill the skills gap and open up well-paying, rewarding career pathways for young people.
The Premier announced the government’s plan to invest $18.1 million in pre-apprenticeship programs and $12.2 million in the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. “By investing in jobs of today and tomorrow, our government is delivering on our promises to get Ontarians working and make Ontario open for business, open for jobs,” the Premier said.
Skilled Trades For Ontario
Instant Hansard ———- Skilled trades
Mr. Toby Barrett: My question is for the Premier. The skilled trades are critical to our economy, yet so many jobs are going unfilled. I’ve heard from employers in my riding who are frustrated—the red tape and stifling regulations the previous skilled trades framework created and the lack of action by the previous government to make life easier for those in the trades. I was so pleased to hear last week the Premier and our Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities announce our government’s plan to modernize the trades. Tradespeople in my riding are excited to see a government finally taking the trades seriously.
Can the Premier tell us more about how important this plan is for these people and how it will help Ontario open for business and open for jobs?
Hon. Doug Ford: Through you, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my all-star, and he’s a real all-star, from Haldimand–Norfolk. I was up in his area at a fish fry. I can tell you, the people absolutely love him.
But through you, Mr. Speaker, I’d like to thank the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, as well as her parliamentary assistant and the member from Northumberland–Peterborough South and the member for Durham, for joining me at the Darlington Energy Complex. We had a great meeting there last Friday. When we went through there, there were 14 different trades and all 14 absolutely loved this, loved what we’re doing. Those are the people we support—the front-line, hard-working tradespeople.
Through our budget of 2019, we passed the Modernizing the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act, which will reduce red tape for employers and apprentices
(Hon. Doug Ford)
… Through our budget of 2019, we passed the Modernizing the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act, which will reduce red tape for employers and apprentices, streamline services and delivery and help promote the tremendous career opportunities that the skilled trades offer. And—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you. Supplementary question.
Mr. Toby Barrett: Well, thank you very much, Premier. It’s great to hear that we’re taking decisive action to improve the skilled trades framework ignored for 15 long years by the previous government. I’m disappointed the NDP would refuse to support our plan to reduce the burden on tradespeople. Obviously, it’s clear our government’s listening and our plan will cut red tape, promote careers, open up Ontario for jobs.
We do know that by 2021, one in five jobs will be in the skilled trades. Yet we also know so many baby boomers are now retiring. I’m very proud our government recognizes this urgent need to fill the skills gap and open up well-paying, rewarding career pathways for young people. Can the Premier tell us more about our plan for the skilled trades?
Hon. Doug Ford: I want to thank the member for the question again. Through you, Mr. Speaker: The member is absolutely right that our government is taking action to reduce the red tape and burdens on Ontario skilled tradespeople. As part of our plan to put our skilled tradespeople first, our government is investing $18.1 million in pre-apprenticeship programs to help prepare hard-working Ontarians for careers in the skilled trades. We’re also investing $12.2 million to support the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program to help students in grades 11 and 12. They can experience skilled trades while getting a credit for school.
By investing in jobs of today and tomorrow, our government is delivering on our promises to get Ontarians working and make Ontario open for business, open for jobs. It’s a shame that the NDP decided to vote against these measures that would make life easier—
The Speaker (Hon. Ted Arnott): Thank you very much.