Career ready

Leaving the development of the Canadian workforce in the hands of young adults, many of whom have a fixed and narrow understanding of the Canadian workforce, is risky, especially when they are insulated from the realities of the modern economy. [...] This, of course, is in keeping with the general approach of governments in Canada, which focuses on providing Canadians with the services they want, in this case education and training, rather than the preparation they and the country need. [...] We owe it to ourselves to scrutinize the status quo, and we owe it to our youth to initiate the institutional and cultural changes that will simultaneously enable their fulfillment and secure Canada’s ongoing prosperity and success. [...] We lack a market-driven approach to workforce development that matches education, training and the availability of workers to the needs of the economy. [...] If one of the goals of the public school system is to prepare students for the rest of their lives, they would do well to invite the business community to play a part in the school experience.