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. I should know – I am the proud parent of one with the same butterflies, hopes and dreams for my kid’s future as parents in Swift Current, Sherbrooke and Sault Ste. Marie.

As college leaders return to campus to welcome these students, there are big priorities and even bigger demands on the horizon.

Members of Parliament will soon return to the House of Commons to hash out a plan to deliver for Canadians – to expand and strengthen trade and export relationships, boost housing construction, invest in national defence, increase energy production, and support businesses to be more productive, among other priorities.

Making it happen will require a vision anchored in and coordinated across every community in the country. 

As a network, it’s time to showcase what we can do. 

The federal government has ambitions to build the strongest economy in the G7. To do so, Canada needs a highly skilled, agile and mobile workforce to build; strong and resilient businesses to grow; and mission-driven, place-based and hands-on innovation to solve our national challenges.

The plan starts on a college campus

• Your faculty provide training for Canada’s young people, mid-career workers, newcomers and international students, new military recruits, and veterans transitioning into civilian jobs. 

• Your state-of-the-art facilities equip the next generation of workers with the productivity-boosting skills needed to leverage technological innovations to build more and better. 

• Your research labs, Centres collégiaux de transfert de technologies and Technology Access Centres develop the solutions that help businesses derisk, adapt, and commercialize new technologies that improve the lives of Canadians.

In short, you meet the moment.

Each time I visit a member college, CEGEP, institute, or polytechnic campus (and I’ve been to over 40 in 9 provinces since I started 18 months ago), I see how our institutions grow talent that delivers on the things we need most, drive new ideas that take us where we need to go, and make real differences in the lives of Canadians.

Join a Coordinated National Campaign

While my team and I continue to tell your story of impact in Ottawa, your on-the-ground expertise and community connections bring that story to life. 

This October, we’re hosting CICan’s inaugural Campus Connection Week – a coordinated engagement effort designed to highlight the work and impact of Canada’s public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs and polytechnics.

• How to participate? This Fall, invite a Minister, Member of Parliament or Senator to campus – to tour a lab or training space, meet students, faculty, and campus leaders, speak to community partners and showcase the real work colleges and institutes do every day to train skilled workers, support businesses and help build strong, prosperous communities.  Learn more.

Canada has ambitious plans

At a time when the country is facing a deepening housing crisis, aging demographics and critical labour shortages, lagging productivity, rising security demands, and an urgent need to diversify our energy markets and supply, the leadership of our sector matters more than ever. These are not local or isolated issues – they are national in scope and demand coordinated solutions with all levels of government working together with key partners.

In every province and territory, Canada’s public colleges and institutes are strategically positioned to support these priorities and the big projects needed to respond. 

My mission for the coming academic year: that more Parliamentarians will see, hear, and understand that real impact starts here and make the necessary investments.