It can be stretched to include everything from basic literacy to advanced scientific research. It can be sold as the remedy to Canada's economic woes, the key to global competitiveness and the hope for future generations. It can be used to brand the Liberals as the party of ideas, creativity and boundless ambition.
But as the former Harvard professor and his brain trust flesh out their policy manifesto, there are a few realities to consider:
Hundreds of thousands of disillusioned university graduates are on the job market right now. They prepared themselves for the "knowledge society" at considerable personal and family expense, then ended up with few employment prospects, few marketable skills and a future of short-term contracts and dwindling dreams.
Meanwhile, employers are ratcheting up the qualifications for entry-level positions. Even receptionists and apprentice mechanics need college certificates.
Before proceeding further down this path, it might be wise to take a hard look at what David Livingstone, head of the University of Toronto's Centre for the Study of Education and Work, calls the "educational arms race."
Canada needs – and will continue to need – home care workers, tradespeople, cleaners, truck drivers, technicians, shopkeepers and labourers. Their jobs may not be glamorous, but they're essential. Where do these people fit into Ignatieff's vision?
The Liberal leader and his strategists may find the phrase "smart is the new black" appealing, but to millions of hard-working Canadians, it sounds elitist and suggests they'll be second-class members of the knowledge society.
An enormous amount of talent is being wasted in Canada. A nation that recruits the "best and brightest" professionals, managers and scientists in the world, then denies them the opportunity to use their skills – because they can't get a licence, they can't get their credentials recognized, they can't get a job in their field without Canadian experience or they can't get the upgrading they need – cannot call itself a "knowledge society."
The Conservatives didn't create this pool of underutilized talent. It was the Liberals who overhauled the immigration rules, seven years ago, without taking into account the professional and attitudinal barriers the newcomers would encounter. Unless Ignatieff has a workable plan to get highly educated immigrants out of cabs, fast-food outlets and other minimum-wage workplaces, his slogan will have a gaping hole at its heart.
It would be hard to argue that previous governments have neglected or skimped on education. Canada is a leader in higher learning. It ranked first among 30 countries in a survey released by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development last year, which compared the percentage of citizens with post-secondary degrees or diplomas. Younger students fare well, too, in international reading and mathematics tests.
Although there are serious gaps – early learning and adult literacy – Canada's overall education record is respectable.
Every national leader since Brian Mulroney has touted education/knowledge/creativity/innovativeness as Canada's passport to prosperity. Hundreds of speeches have been delivered, papers written and plans unveiled.
Perhaps Ignatieff can deliver the message more compellingly than anyone else. But he'll be competing with a string of former prime ministers, the incumbent and U.S. President Barack Obama, who is pouring billions of dollars into education, science, student aid and preschool programs.
Individually, the planks of Ignatieff's platform make sense.
All of Canada's children need a strong start. Aboriginal youngsters deserve the same life chances as their peers. Tackling illiteracy is an imperative as blue-collar jobs disappear. Offering affordable retraining to workers who lose their jobs is also essential. And scientists need reliable financial support and the freedom to make the discoveries and open the doors that will lead to sustainable industries and lasting jobs.
Without a hackneyed label, the Liberal agenda sounds promising.
With one, it sounds stale and overpackaged.
No comments:
Post a Comment