Ready for the Challenge
Resources
Humber Polytechnic
Building an Innovation-Enabled Talent Pipeline
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Creating a More Sustainable Agriculture Sector
Conestoga College
Training the Next Generation of Skilled Tradespeople
Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2024 Federal Budget
Key recommendations include:
- Modernize Canada’s academic research and development system with more flexible funding mechanisms that fully utilize capacity across the post-secondary research ecosystem
- Create a dedicated Tri-Agency funding allocation for Indigenous-led applied research
- Relaunch a $3.5 billion post-secondary infrastructure program that enables institutions to invest in green infrastructure and ensure campuses meet sustainability standards
- Establish a $25 million per year training equipment fund for Canada’s hands-on learning institutions to support skills development for a rapidly evolving labour market
- Restructure the Canada Training Benefit to increase awareness, navigation and upfront financial supports for workers
- Establish permanent baseline funding for the Student Work Placement Program, with additional investments designed to address the lingering impact of the pandemic on Canada’s youth
Polytechnic Alumni Leaders & Problem Solvers
Polytechnic alumni are a powerful and diverse community – now more than 2.4 million strong – of successful innovators, creators and leaders. From improving healthcare to addressing climate change, they are confronting some of the biggest challenges across Canada and around the globe.
What makes polytechnic alumni so great? They have the skills and motivation to drive the future. They’ve received hands-on training on the latest technology in their fields, ensuring they have both the competence and confidence to hit the workforce at full speed. They established employer networks and gained relevant experience during their studies, propelling them to take the labour market by storm.
In this publication, we highlight just a few inspiring examples of polytechnic graduates who are tackling some of the greatest challenges of our time, including how they are:
• Building a healthier Canada
• Contributing to a net-zero future
• Growing the skilled trades workforce
• Showcasing international citizenship
• Strengthening Canada’s healthcare system
• Creating a more inclusive society
Submission to the Department of Finance in advance of Budget 2023
Key recommendations include:
- Enhance the capacity of Canada’s innovation intermediaries to boost performance within small- and medium-sized companies by investing $331 million over five years in the College and Community Innovation Program
- Renew support for experiential learning by making the Student Work Placement Program permanent and expanding eligibility to include post-secondary institutions and international students
- Strengthen awareness of and navigation to lifelong learning by ensuring Canadians have relevant labour market information and guidance to available training
- Invest in the research and learning infrastructure designed to develop a future ready workforce. Ensure all new infrastructure programs can be accessed by post-secondary institutions to make their campuses more sustainable, accessible and better equipped with the tools and technologies used by employers
Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2023 Federal Budget
Key recommendations include:
- Enhance the capacity of Canada’s innovation intermediaries to boost performance within small- and
medium-sized companies by investing $331 million over five years in the College and Community
Innovation Program - Renew support for experiential learning by making the Student Work Placement Program permanent
and expanding eligibility to include post-secondary institutions and international students - Strengthen awareness of and navigation to lifelong learning by ensuring Canadians have relevant labour
market information on skills in demand, flexible financial supports to pursue training and guidance to
available courses - Relaunch a post-secondary infrastructure program that enables investments in green infrastructure,
new technology and systems designed to develop a future-ready workforce
2022 – Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2022 Federal Budget
Key recommendations include:
- Activate applied research to enable business innovation
- Increase access, navigation and support for lifelong learning
- Make investments in post-secondary infrastructure a part of Canada’s long-term growth and development plan
- Support a robust and inclusive economic recovery