Our new federal government has burnished its image on the international stage and, as the focus returns from summits abroad, it should now turn its attention to helping Canadians meet those commitments and solve today’s complex issues, both internationally and domestically.
Last Friday’s throne speech, Making Real Change Happen, outlines the government’s priorities. Are there sunny days on the horizon for Canada’s universities and its students?
Universities are places where the capacity of our leaders of today and tomorrow is developed. Education creates opportunity, opens up the promise of our knowledge economy and results in more engaged citizens who are happier, healthier, with higher self-esteem and able to be more effective contributors to a sustainable future.
It can also contribute to the success of Canada’s indigenous community, of disaffected and potentially alienated immigrant youth, of underemployed and underemployed urban youth.
Although the federal government attempts to ensure the standards of education are the same for every Canadian, the Constitution Act of 1982 places the responsibility for education with the provinces. The absence of a federal education mandate means Canada continues to writhe from a lack of an integrated and co-ordinated national approach to post-secondary education.
Fortunately, the federal government does have some influence and leverage over university education. During the throne speech, it signalled its interest in using some of those levers. By pledging to “work with the provinces and territories to make post-secondary education more affordable,” the government has indicated positive support for student loans and in raising the grant threshold for students.
The throne speech also highlighted a commitment to implement recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and improve educational opportunities for indigenous students.
While it was not as evident in the speech, the Liberals campaigned to invest in accelerators, incubators and a national network for business innovation. There are references to the role of science, research, evidence-based policies and innovation in the government’s agenda and in many of the ministerial mandate letters.
We hope this commitment will translate to sustained support for the three federal research councils and research chairs as they play an essential role in discoveries that can lead to long-term, positive impacts for Canadians’ quality of life.
We also hope their pledge for investing in infrastructure includes assisting universities in their deferred building-maintenance challenge of more than $8 billion, supporting upgrades and replacement of some of our aging buildings and classrooms.
Universities can and should be part of the solution this government is looking for as it makes change really happen. We have an advantage in B.C. in working with a Liberal government to help it achieve its promises and commitments.
First, we have implemented a healthy, differentiated post-secondary/university system — from research-intensive universities, to teaching-focused community-based universities and colleges prepping and upgrading skills and trades, applied research and specialty institutions.
For example, Royal Roads University focuses its programs on market demand and toward building leadership capacity in middle and senior managers in a way that is continuously and conveniently obtainable, demand-driven and relevant throughout graduates’ professional lives.
By differentiating and focusing on their own strengths, Canada’s universities can direct their attention to supporting regional and national alignment with the new government’s agenda and priorities.
By differentiating, we can also be more collaborative with each other and build on our respective strengths — no longer competing, but, rather, complementing each other. In B.C., we have many examples of institutions doing just that — including the Vancouver Island Public Post-secondary Alliance made up of three distinct universities and two colleges. This kind of approach can and should spread across the country.
Universities in Canada are keen to work with the new government and assist it in achieving its economic, social and cultural goals. We share a common desire to provide solutions to the key challenges the country faces domestically and internationally, to help us achieve “peace, order and good government” and ensure that all Canadians share in a progressive agenda.
It is increasingly true, in spite of the fast-changing environment we live in, one thing remains constant: the value of a university education. By working together, universities and the federal government can jointly prepare the economic, social, cultural and sustainable leaders Canada needs.
Allan Cahoon is president and vice-chancellor of Royal Roads University.
