Are We Making Progress? New Evidence on Aboriginal Education Outcomes in Provincial and Reserve Schools
Urgent action by the federal government is required to address the persistently low high-school completion rates among young First nation adults living on-reserve, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Are We Making Progress? New Evidence on Aboriginal Education Outcomes in Provincial and Reserve Schools,” author John Richards concludes that on-reserve education is […] Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Are They Really Filling Labour Shortages?
Changes to the Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW) program between 2002 and 2012, which made it easier to hire foreign workers, accelerated the rise in unemployment in Alberta and British Columbia, according to a new C.D. Howe Institute report. In “Temporary Foreign Workers in Canada: Are They Really Filling Labour Shortages?”, author Dominique M. Gross finds […] Tradable Services: Canada’s Overlooked Success Story
While manufacturing has been struggling to recoup job losses, Canada’s tradable services sectors have been expanding, providing an increased number of well-paying jobs in Canada in the midst of tough economic times, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Tradable Services: Canada’s Overlooked Success Story,” author Daniel Schwanen finds the […] Five steps to better schools on First Nations reserves: National Post Op-Ed
Published in the National Post on December 23, 2013
By John Richards and Michael Mendelson
Among the most contentious pieces of legislation for the present sitting of Parliament is a First Nations Education Act. It defines for reserve schools the equivalent of a provincial schools act. Knowing it to be highly contentious, Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, had it posted online, with an assurance that clauses were still open to discussion.
Last month, Shawn Atleo, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) wrote an open letter to the Minister. In a delicate balancing act, he restated the almost unanimous view of First Nations chiefs that Ottawa’s current draft Education Act is…
To Improve Equality, It’s Education And Opportunity That Matter: Globe And Mail Op-ed
Published in the Globe and Mail on November 23, 2013
By Finn Poschmann
The coming byelection in Toronto Centre, contested by two champions of greater equality, Chrystia Freeland and Linda McQuaig, has proven a jumping off point for a new round of handwringing over the rich and poor, and the distance between them.
Toronto Centre, you see, contains Rosedale and Regent Park, meaning the rich and poor live rather close together. There’s nothing new about that: Writing a century ago, a visitor to Ottawa remarked on the Rockcliffe neighbourhood, where the well-to-do jostled uncomfortably closely with residents of less tony Vanier.
In the first half of the 20th century, income inequality was on the…
Time to negotiate a schools act for First Nations: Globe & Mail Op-Ed
Published in the Globe & Mail on November 7, 2013
By John Richards and Michael Mendelson
No legislation destined for the present Parliament is more important or more controversial than the First Nations Education Act. Proposed legislation is normally tabled first in the House of Commons. The Minister of Aboriginal Affairs recently took the highly unusual step of releasing a draft bill online.
What is this bill about? In effect, it defines for reserve schools the equivalent of a provincial schools act.
It defines the responsibilities of school principals. It requires that band councils designate a “school inspector” and a “director of education” – equivalent to a school board superintendent. It…
What You Don’t Know Can’t Help You: Lessons of Behavioural Economics for Tax-Based Student Aid
Postsecondary tax credits cost the federal and provincial governments billions of dollars each year, but are not distributed equitably and may have no proven effect in boosting enrolment, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “What You Don’t Know Can’t Help You: Lessons of Behavioural Economics for Tax-Based Student Aid,” […] Why is BC Best? The Role of Provincial and Reserve School Systems in Explaining Aboriginal Student Performance
British Columbia leads the provinces in educational outcomes for young Aboriginal adults, while Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta lag badly, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Why is BC Best? The Role of Provincial and Reserve School Systems in Explaining Aboriginal Student Performance,” author John Richards finds that innovative approaches […] Absent With Leave: The Implications of Demographic Change for Worker Absenteeism
Demographic forces are helping drive up the Canadian workforce’s reported absence rates owing to illness, according to a study released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Absent With Leave: The Implications of Demographic Change for Worker Absenteeism,” authors Finn Poschmann and Omar Chatur find, over the long-term, absence rates have climbed, identify potential causes […] Alberta’s Best Schools – 2013
A new in-depth report reveals Alberta’s best schools using student results on Provincial Achievement Tests in math, reading, science and social studies in grades 3, 6 and 9. In “Identifying Alberta’s Best Schools,” Professor David Johnson compares student outcomes on an “apples-to-apples” basis at Alberta schools where students come from similar socio-economic backgrounds, revealing “good” […] The Main Challenge of Our Times: A Population Growing Younger
The real demographic challenge for Canadian policymakers is adapting to a population growing “younger,” after taking increased life expectancies into account, says a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “The Main Challenge of Our Times: A Population Growing Younger,” authors Marcel Boyer and Sébastien Boyer propose an alternative approach to population aging, […] Improving Immigrant Selection: Further Changes Are Required Before Increasing Inflows
Before increasing new immigrant intake targets, Canada should focus on improving immigrants’ labour market outcomes through reforms to the selection process, according to a report released today by the C.D. Howe Institute. In “Improving Immigrant Selection: Further Changes Are Required Before Increasing Inflows,” author Christopher Worswick cites recent evidence of poor outcomes for recent immigrants […]