November 4, 2025 – Ottawa, ON – Polytechnics Canada acknowledges the federal government’s commitment to economic resilience and workforce development outlined in Budget 2025. 

As Canada navigates the challenges posed by global trade disruptions and shifting labour market dynamics, polytechnics stand ready to play a central role in equipping Canadians with the skills needed for a competitive, inclusive and future-ready economy. However, while the Budget outlines important priorities, it falls short in recognizing the vital role polytechnics play in achieving these goals.  

Canada’s polytechnics serve nearly 500,000 full-time students and deliver thousands of industry-aligned programs across the country. These institutions respond to labour market needs with agility, offering hands-on education and work-integrated learning opportunities that directly contribute to economic growth.  

While we welcome investments in youth employment and reskilling — such as the expansion of the Student Work Placement Program and youth green skills training — these measures must be paired with sustained support for the institutions that deliver youth training and education.  

The Budget’s overall focus on innovation, productivity and infrastructure offers an opportunity to leverage polytechnics’ applied research capabilities and industry partnerships. We urge the government to ensure that polytechnics are fully engaged in the rollout of these investments, particularly in areas such as AI compute infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, clean technology and digital transformation.  

Polytechnics Canada remains committed to partnering with government and industry to ensure Canadians have access to practical, future-focused education and that our institutions are empowered to contribute meaningfully to national recovery and growth. 

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About Polytechnics Canada
Polytechnics Canada is the voice of leading research-intensive, publicly supported polytechnics, colleges and institutes of technology. Sitting at the intersection of workforce development and business innovation, Canada’s polytechnics contribute to a more innovative, productive and globally competitive country.

Located in Canada’s key economic regions, the members of Polytechnics Canada are: British Columbia Institute of Technology, Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Red River College Polytechnic, Fanshawe College, Conestoga College, Sheridan, Humber Polytechnic, George Brown Polytechnic, Seneca Polytechnic and Algonquin College.

For information about Polytechnics Canada, visit polytechnicscanada.ca

Media Contact
Bola Adisa
Communications Coordinator
613-656-1541
bola@polytechnicscanada.ca