Canada is investing at historic levels to build big. Housing, building major projects, breaking ground on vital trade and export infrastructure, expanding defence capacity, and modernizing the ways we produce and store energy – the ambition is there. But scaling these projects will depend on one critical factor: people. Skilled talent is a critical national resource, and public colleges and institutes are its primary provider – yet their potential to do more is constrained. This…
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May 21, 2026
How Strong Colleges Create Hope – for Communities and for Canada
By Pari Johnston, President & CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada This article was published by The Academica Forum on May 11, 2026 The first thing…... Read more
Canada
May 6, 2026
Building a Strong and Secure Canada – Together
What’s on my Mind? With Pari Johnston. There is no more important time to convene and connect with intent. Last month in Ottawa, we did…... Read more
Defence
February 26, 2026
Colleges and Institutes Are Strategic Partners in Canada’s Defence Future
Canadians are adapting to a new world order and making real-time decisions for the future of our country based on middle power alignment, interests-based global…... Read more
applied research
January 28, 2026
A Strong and Sovereign Canada Needs Strong Colleges
What’s On My Mind? With Pari Johnston. Members of Parliament are now back in the House of Commons following a six-week holiday break – focused…... Read more
WOMM
December 16, 2025
This Year’s Actionable Insights
What’s On My Mind? With Pari Johnston. When Canada and its communities need solutions, colleges and institutes show up – this year was no different.…... Read more
#reconciliation
November 26, 2025
Turning Ideas and Intentions into Reconcili-ACTION
What’s On My Mind? With Pari Johnston. First and foremost, a sincere thank you to Elder Martin Heavy Head and Samantha Fox, Interim President of…... Read more
#reconciliation
November 21, 2025
To build big things, we must build the builders
By Zabeen Hirji, Inez Jabalpurwala, and Pari Johnston. This op-ed was published by The Globe and Mail on October 31, 2025. Zabeen Hirji is an…... Read more
Canada Strong
September 11, 2025
Real Impact Starts Here
What’s On My Mind? With Pari Johnston. There is a visceral buzz right now as thousands of students return to postsecondary campuses across the country.…... Read more
Build Canada
July 11, 2025
Defence Strength Built on People and Innovation
Prime Minister Mark Carney is making new defence investments to defend our people and our values, to secure our sovereignty, and to protect our allies.…... Read more
CAF
June 11, 2025
Canada’s Challenges, College Solutions
[video width="1920" height="1080" mp4="https://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/open-letter-youtube-en.mp4" poster="https://www.collegesinstitutes.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/open-letter-youtube-en.png"][/video] Prime Minister Carney and his Cabinet are moving quickly to make meaningful progress on the new government’s mandate to build…... Read more
applied research
May 29, 2025
A Globally Competitive Workforce Starts at Home
As Canada faces an imperative to diversify our trading relationships, make gains in emerging markets, and build new global ties, our long-term success and resilience…... Read more
Future Skills
May 14, 2025
It’s Go Time: Bold Action for Canada
In just over two weeks since his election, Prime Minister Mark Carney has already outlined some bold objectives for building housing, improving affordability, boosting productivity,…... Read more
AI
April 15, 2025
Meeting Canada’s Moment
A federal election is two weeks away and Canada is at a turning point. The next government will shape Canada’s future, setting priorities on everything…... Read more
Challenges
April 1, 2025
Scaling Solutions, Building Our Workforce
What’s on My Mind? With Pari Johnston. Canada’s economy is being tested. Global instability, compounding tariffs, supply chain shocks, and aging demographics combined with labour…... Read more
Economy
March 17, 2025
What I See in a United Public College and Institute Sector
What’s on My Mind? With Pari Johnston. I’m fresh off a mission to Washington D.C. with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce where I met with…... Read more
Economy