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As part of our advocacy work in Ottawa, Polytechnics Canada issues written submissions and policy papers to inform and guide decision-makers in areas where polytechnic institutions offer pragmatic solutions to the country’s skills and innovation challenges.

Joint Teaching & Learning Initiative between Canada’s Polytechnics & Ireland’s Technological Universities and Institutes of Technology

October 2, 2025 | 149.26KB | Download pdf >

Eight international partnerships are underway between Canadian polytechnic institutions and Irish technological universities and institutes of technology. These projects represent the first phase of collaborative activity to develop common tools, experiment with new ways to deliver teaching and learning, and encourage faculty and students to engage with their international counterparts around common challenges. Beginning in September 2025 and continuing for up to 18 months, the following projects will explore the integration of augmented and virtual reality, build artificial intelligence fluency and encourage connection through joint projects, communities of practice and online learning.

Submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance – Budget 2025

August 1, 2025 | 810.37KB | Download pdf >

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations for Budget 2025 are intended to capitalize on polytechnic capacity to deliver on an ambitious federal agenda to address lagging productivity indicators, renew defence spending and support strategic workforce development.

Recommendations include:

  • Increase baseline funding to the College and Community Innovation Program to $216M/year, driving innovation, derisking technology adoption and supporting commercialization of Canadian businesses
  • Establish a defence innovation fund to build on existing capacity at Canada’s post-secondary institutions as part of new national defence investments
  • Invest $50M over 5 years to strengthen cyber defence at Canada’s polytechnics and colleges
  • Introduce training vouchers to support workforce adjustment in critical sectors and ensure mid-career workers remain at the cutting edge of their fields
  • Better position the skilled trades workforce to respond to demand for new housing, domestic manufacturing capacity and renewal of transportation infrastructure by prioritizing the retention and completion of apprentices in high-demand trades

Skilled & Ready: Polytechnic Solutions for Canada’s Labour Market Demand

April 29, 2025 | 2.58MB | Download pdf >

Polytechnics Canada worked with researchers at The Conference Board of Canada to illustrate the extent to which polytechnic education responds to labour market demand for talent in the five provinces where our member institutions are located. Using data from Vicinity Jobs, Statistics Canada and its proprietary Model of Occupations, Skills and Technology, The Conference Board assessed more than 2 million job postings in 2023, compared wages by credential and provided five-year job forecasts.

Key findings include:

  • The most in-demand skilled occupations can be found in five clusters: healthcare, skilled trades, information and technology, tourism and hospitality, and care occupations including childcare, social services and early education. All five clusters demonstrate robust hiring demand in 2023, despite cooling in the overall job market. Employment in these fields is projected to experience steady growth in the next five years.
  • Employment and job postings data reveal significant labour shortages in the five high-demand occupation clusters, particularly for skilled workers with post-secondary education. Job postings requiring apprenticeships, diplomas or certificates offered substantial wage premiums and increases in 2023.
  • Polytechnics Canada member institutions offer programming that prepares graduates to work in 86 per cent of in-demand skilled occupations within these five clusters.

Submission to Finance Canada: Recommendations for Budget 2025

March 10, 2025 | 1.98MB | Download pdf >

Canada is facing grave economic threats from its closest neighbour and long-time trading partner. While issues such as lagging productivity and sufficient housing supply are longstanding issues, U.S. tariffs and an American expansionist agenda have seized the attention of Canadians and policymakers alike. There is an urgent need to safeguard Canada’s interests and rally around pragmatic policy prescriptions. The urgency is undeniable. This must be the driving ambition for Budget 2025.

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations to Finance Canada for Budget 2025 include:

  • Support business innovation and derisk technology adoption by making significant new investments in polytechnic and college applied research
  • Enable quick access to upskilling and reskilling with vouchers to offset the cost of training for employers and individuals
  • Better position the skilled trades workforce to respond to demand for new housing, domestic manufacturing capacity and the renewal of transportation infrastructure by prioritizing the retention and completion of apprentices in high-demand trades

Recent Reforms to the International Student Program

December 10, 2024 | 1.68MB | Download pdf >

Recent changes to international student policy represent one of the most consequential federal actions affecting the post-secondary education sector in decades.  The damage to Canada’s international reputation has been profound, tarnishing its image both as a destination for international students and as a welcoming place for immigrants. 

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations to the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration include:

  • All Bachelor’s degree programs should be treated equally with regard to post-graduate work permit (PGWP) eligibility, reflecting undifferentiated labour market outcomes
  • Provincial labour market data should inform PGWP eligibility, recognizing that institutions respond to local and regional employer requirements for talent
  • Desist in making additional changes to the international student program, enabling the sector to stabilize and regroup without threat of continued uncertainty

Study on the new Capstone Research Funding Organization

December 10, 2024 | 1.64MB | Download pdf >

Though Canada makes considerable investments in academic research, its struggle with productivity is well documented. Knowledge mobilization remains a significant challenge. The capstone research funding organization has the potential to address this shortcoming. 

As the Standing Committee on Science and Research considers recommendations for a new capstone organization, Polytechnics Canada sees tremendous value in the creation of an organization focused on connecting academic research to the innovation supply chain.

Polytechnics Canada’s recommendations include:

  • Identify priorities and focus for the new capstone research organization
  • Assess capacity and expertise to address those priorities across the research ecosystem
  • Encourage and support inter-disciplinary partnerships, including with industry partners who are positioned to test and implement research findings

Submission for the Pre-Budget Consultations in Advance of the 2025 Federal Budget

August 6, 2024 | 1.24MB | Download pdf >

Key recommendations include:

  1. Make the Budget 2023 investment in the College and Community Innovation Program permanent
  2. Establish a $46-million Polytechnic & College Research Growth Fund to propel applied research solutions to Canada’s major challenges
  3. Invest $50 million over five years in cybersecurity at Canada’s polytechnics and colleges
  4. Provide sustained funding to support work-integrated learning for post-secondary students and enable upskilling for mid-career workers
  5. Establish a Canadian Work Experience Pilot to encourage international students to study in priority fields
  6. Prioritize the retention and completion of apprentices in high-demand trades

The Economic Impact of Applied Research at Canada’s Polytechnics

August 6, 2024 | 2.23MB | Download pdf >

Polytechnics Canada has worked with economists at Prism Economics and Analysis to study the economic and social impacts of applied research underway at our member institutions. Along with datasets drawn from NSERC, Statistics Canada and our own annual surveys, principal investigators and business partners provided information about the value derived from applied research collaborations. The report includes 30 case studies, showcasing projects driving market innovation, technology adoption, environmental impact or improved health and wellness.

Key takeaways include:

  • Every dollar invested in polytechnic applied research generates a return on investment from a low estimate of $8.09 to a high of $18.49
  • As a result of applied research collaborations, 51 per cent of project partners reported increased R&D capability, 48 per cent achieved improved competitiveness and 12 per cent said they created new jobs
  • More than 85 per cent of applied research partners are small- or mid-sized organizations – a group that faces unique barriers to investing in R&D. Among the barriers identified are a shortage of technical staff, lack of facilities, capital constraints and regulatory burden

Response to the Capstone Research Organization Consultation

July 15, 2024 | 128.32KB | Download pdf >

Key recommendations include:

  1. Identify priorities and focus for the new capstone research organization
  2. Assess capacity and expertise to address those priorities across the research ecosystem
  3. Encourage and support inter-disciplinary partnerships, including with industry partners who are positioned to test and implement research findings