Investing in Post-Secondary Education

Productivity, Sustained Growth and Prosperity

Productivity, sustained growth, and prosperity are key to Canada’s economic success, standard of living and quality of life both now and in the future. Having a workforce where the majority has a post-secondary education is critical to Canada’s economic success. Post-secondary education plays a fundamental critical role in contributing the achievement of these goals. This is done by establishing a highly skilled workforce, stimulating innovation and contributing to Canada’s social development and produces significant benefits in terms of innovation, economic growth, and opportunities for individuals to advance in the labour market. Post-secondary education also provides important linkages and profile internationally while acting as a focal point for intellectual and cultural development at the local level.

We Need to Do More

Over the years, the Government of Canada has made significant investments in post-secondary education, supporting access, research and development, and the provinces and territories through transfers. We can be proud of our achievements: our post-secondary education institutions are diverse and high quality and we have the highest rate of participation in the OECD.

However, Canada must do more to ensure its post-secondary education supports the skills, ideas and partnerships required for a rapidly changing global marketplace and country. For example, concerns about access to, and affordability of, post-secondary education persist and there are gaps in participation as well as changing skills requirements in the labour market. Canada’s demographics and globalization also contribute to the need for more concerted action in post-secondary education among certain groups.

The Government of Canada’s Approach to Post-Secondary Education

The Government of Canada proposes to work collaboratively with the provinces and territories to advance inter-connected areas for investment, which have been identified to address current pressures and to set the stage for longer-term action. These proposed strategic investments reaffirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to post-secondary education and would contribute to a dynamic post-secondary education system that meets the changing needs of learners, the economy and society in a globalized world.

1. Participation and Attainment
   Vision: to ensure that all qualified individuals have opportunities to access and complete a post-secondary education. The Government of Canada will consider reforms to improve student financial assistance for low and middle income Canadians which might include:
   
   • extending grant support for low-income students with dependants and for low-income independent students;
   • increasing loan limits for students in advanced studies;
   • improving the part-time loans and grants program;
   • simplifying current debt repayment measures into a system based on a borrower’s ability to repay;
   • reducing the interest rate on direct student loans; and
   • creating a one-stop Web site for student financial assistance.
     
     
2. Innovation and Excellence
   Vision: to foster the excellence of post-secondary education and the development of new ideas and highly qualified professionals by increasing capacity and opportunities for research, learning, and innovation. To this end, the Government of Canada proposes to:
   • increase support to colleges and universities;
   • increase support for the indirect costs of research and research infrastructure;
   • increase support for the commercialization of research to help Canadian firms bring products to market;
   • support undergraduate research internships; and
   • provide supports for graduate and advanced degree students.
     
     
3. International Education— Nation Building and Global Citizenship
   Vision: to encourage greater civic engagement and stronger bonds between Canadians from different regions and backgrounds and between Canadians and the rest of the world. To help realize this vision, the Government of Canada proposes to:
   • promote participation of Canadian post-secondary education institutions in international networks;
   • promote scholarships for Canadian students to study abroad; and
   • promote scholarships for foreign students to study in Canada.

Post-secondary education: Positioning Canada to Compete and Succeed in the Global Economy.