December 21, 2012

December 21, 2012

Advocacy

The 2013-2014 Budget may come down in February. Accordingly, we have accelerated our advocacy efforts. We urge leaders of member institutions to engage local Members of Parliament over the Parliamentary break. The document shared with Minister Finley provides talking points.

We participated in a roundtable with Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development which explored solutions to Canada’s advanced skills crisis within a Framework to Address Shortages in Advanced Skills. The Framework included recommendations for enhancing college and institute capacity through a second, targeted round of the Knowledge Infrastructure Program (KIP); increased investments in college-SME applied research partnerships; promoting technology and trades professions; a pan-Canadian Essential Skills program; modernizing apprenticeship; and, equipping marginalized populations with the skills required for employment. The meeting resulted from a discussion between Don Lovisa, President, Durham College and the Prime Minister.

We met with the Minister of Finance’s senior staff, reinforcing the themes discussed with Diane Finley and reported on ready-to-go infrastructure projects submitted by 48 member institutions. We shared the document from the meeting with Minister Finley and spoke to the key messages.

In a meeting with the senior policy staff of the Minister of Industry, Christian Paradis, we addressed the success of college and institute applied research partnerships with SMEs through the College and Community Innovation Program. Industry Canada administered the first KIP. We shared the current list of college/institute infrastructure projects.

We met with Rob Bruinooge, Chair of the Conservative PSE Caucus and MP for Winnipeg South, and Ray Boughen, MP for Palliser, discussing our input to the Finance Committee.

We met with senior officials from Agriculture Canada, on the recently-announced Agri-Innovation Program. This five-year, up to $468 million initiative is designed to accelerate the pace of innovation by supporting research and development activities in agri-innovations and facilitating the demonstration, commercialization and/or adoption of innovative products, technologies, processes, practices and services.

ACCC 2013 Conference – June 1-3, 2013 – Penticton, BC

Hosted by Okanagan College, the 2013 ACCC Annual Conference “Ideas Uncorked” will showcase innovative approaches, engage participants in dialogue and catalyze new initiatives. The Conference will take place at the Penticton Trade and Convention Centre with some network sessions at the Penticton Lakeside Resort. Pre-Conference events will take place on Friday, May 31.

Watch for the announcement of Conference keynotes in the new year, including Gemini award-winning broadcaster and journalist Evan Solomon, host of CBC News Network’s Power and Politics with Evan Solomon.

Congratulations

Congratulations to Jane Arychuk, who was named President of Aurora College. Ms. Arychuk has been the acting President since July 3, 2012.

Congratulations to Glenn Vollebregt, who was appointed the new President and CEO of St. Lawrence College, effective January 1, 2013.

Congratulations to Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee medal recipients Ann Buller, ACCC Chair and President of Centennial College and Dr. Dan Patterson, President of Niagara College.