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On February 26-27, 2001 at the request of Human Resources Development
Canada, the Centre for the Study of Living Standards (CSLS) held an
invitational stakeholder roundtable in Ottawa on the topic of creating
a more efficient labour market. The specific objectives of the
roundtable were to examine the recommendations of the report of
the Expert Panel on Skills released in February 2000 and to gauge
support for future action in the area of skills and learning. Over
70 persons participated in the roundtable, with representation from
leading members of the business, labour, public policy, non-governmental
organizations, and academic communities as well as senior representation
from federal government departments and provincial governments.
The event was opened on the evening of the first day by the Honourable
Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development with a speech
entitled "Investing in Skills, Canadians and Canada's Future." On the
second day, roundtable discussion was organized around four specific
topics: ways to improve the effectiveness of sector councils; the role
of the labour market information system in improving labour market
efficiency; the effectiveness of immigration in meeting the current
needs of the labour market; and the strengths and weaknesses of the
Canadian apprenticeship system. At the beginning of each session,
four persons very knowledgeable about the topic from the private sector,
government, and academia served as lead speakers to stimulate discussion.
The documents posted on this website include a report that synthesizes
the deliberations of the roundtable and makes recommendations based on
these discussions and the actual proceedings of the event. These
proceedings include the speech by the Minister; the remarks from the
lead speakers; the ensuing discussion; and the remarks by the rapporteur
Arthur Kroeger. A list of the roundtable participants and the
biographical sketches of the lead speakers are also included.
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