Provincial and territorial ministers responsible for primary-secondary and post-secondary education met for the 112e meeting of the Council of Ministers of Education (Canada) [CMEC] in King City, Ontario, on June 12, 2024, to discuss initiatives of common interest and challenges in education, including artificial intelligence (AI), indigenous education and the acquisition of skills in line with trends emerging areas of the labor market.
The person representing Ontario makes the following statement of recognition: “We gather on the traditional territories of the Wendat, Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe, as well as on Treaty No.o 13 from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. »
Ministers spoke with the representative from Skills Canada, who shared his thoughts on trends in skilled trades, highlighting the dynamic intersection of technology and education.
Ministers continued their discussion on AI and examined its potential in the field of education. The dialogue focused on actions being taken in each province and territory to address the rapid rise of AI technologies and their implications for teaching and learning. The ministers discussed their respective challenges and the possibilities for an exchange of expertise in this area through CMEC to ensure in particular that rapid technological advances, such as AI, are leveraged to ensure better learning outcomes for students.
A person representing the Canadian Center for Child Protection was invited to address the safety and protection of children and youth in digital spaces, focusing particularly on emerging risks online and the importance of taking precautions. proactive and preventive measures.
Ministers responsible for primary-secondary education, for their part, highlighted the need to provide digital citizenship education to ensure that students are equipped with the skills they need to think critically and responsibly share information and knowledge, whether online or in real life. Ministers emphasized that digital citizenship education serves to promote democratic values and civic engagement in an increasingly connected world.
A discussion was held on efforts to improve student achievement through strengthening literacy and numeracy skills, building on the latest results from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) and focusing on identifying effective practices to strengthen foundational skills across provinces and territories.
As part of the CMEC Plan for Indigenous Education, 2023-2027, the ministers discussed current initiatives in their province or territory to advance truth and reconciliation in Canada.
Ministers responsible for post-secondary education discussed the financial sustainability of the post-secondary sector as institutions face increasing financial pressures in a changing economy. Ministers shared information on strategic investments, financing and accountability frameworks.
Ministers responsible for post-secondary education also discussed the impact of recent changes that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made to the International Student Program without regard for provincial and territorial concerns. Ministers agreed that greater collaboration is needed to address provincial and territorial responsibilities and jurisdictions. They also urged the federal government to review its approach to the recognized institutions framework and commit to meaningful consultation with provinces and territories before implementing any further immigration policies that will directly impact education. Ministers discussed the cap on international students and expressed the desire that it not be reduced in 2025. Ministers also stressed the importance of provinces and territories leading discussions on their own workforce needs. Ministers agreed that it will be essential for the federal government to provide regular and timely data on the processing of international student applications to enable informed, evidence-based decisions to be made.
