This document discusses issues and potential solutions related to education in Ontario. It provides a biography of author Paul Young and his background. Key points made in the document include: - Graduation rates have improved across Canada but money from political parties is not improving how tax dollars are delivered to students. - Rural Ontario needs a new economic development strategy and education is not well aligned with today's and future jobs. - Too many students lack critical thinking skills and have been treated as "special" rather than prepared for the real world. - There is a need for more emphasis on subjects like financial planning, science, technology and writing in secondary school programs. - The document outlines an agenda to discuss specific topics in more depth

1. EDUCATION – ONTARIO – ISSUES AND SOLUTIONS –
SEPTEMBER 2018
BY: PAUL YOUNG, CPA, CGA
DATE: SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

2. PAUL YOUNG - BIO
• CPA, CGA
• Academia (PF1, FA4 and MS2)
• SME – Risk Management
• SME – Close, Consolidate and Reporting
• SME – Public Policy
• SME – Financial Solutions
• SME – Supply Chain Management
Contact information:
Paul_Young_CGA@Hotmail.com

3. SUMMARY
 Education across Canada have seen improvement in graduation rates.
 NDP and Liberals continue to throw money at symptoms which do not improve the effectiveness of
delivery tax dollars to the student education.
 Rural Ontario needs a new economic development strategy
 Education is not being aligned in terms of the jobs today as well as the future
 Too many students lack critical thinking, interpersonal skills, time management and judgement
 Too many students have been treated as special when in the fact the real world does not treat anyone
special
 There are systemic issues with programs being offered at the secondary level. There needs to be more
emphasis on financial planning, biology, IT, chemistry, writing and physics.

4. AGENDA
 Ontario
 What is ARC
 Graduation Rates – High School
 Teacher compensation
 School Board F/S – Upper Grand District
 What is Skills GAP?
 Skills GAP and Productivity
 Government Training Programs
 Issues facing Skills Development and Training
 Hamilton, Ontario
 Other resources

5. ONTARIO AND EDUCATION
 Source – Stats Canada and Government of Ontario
• McGuinty increase teacher compensation when
he took office
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012/1
0/31/dalton_mcguinty_regrets_how_teachers_un
ions_were_handled.html
• Students are not being pushed to areas where
there are more upside to jobs
• Student debt is a big issue in Ontario -
https://globalnews.ca/news/3755628/canadian-
student-loans-regrets/
• Wynne and McGuinty policies led to private
sector jobs and investment fleeing the province.
-
http://business.financialpost.com/news/econo
my/public-sector-crowding-out-private-job-
growth-hampering-employment-opportunities-
in-canada
• New tax policies will hurt start ups -
http://business.financialpost.com/personal-
finance/taxes/canadas-proposed-tax-changes-
are-casting-entrepreneurs-as-the-bad-guys-
and-thats-bad-news-for-the-economy

6. WHAT IS ARC?
Source - http://peopleforeducation.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Ontario-school-closing-list-2017.pdf
orhttp://www.standard-freeholder.com/2017/06/29/ontario-hitting-pause-on-school-closures---media-
teleconference
Based on guidelines provided by the Ministry of education the various
school boards conduct review of enrolment as part of assessing whether a
school should be close or not.

7. GRADUATION RATES
Source - https://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-595-m/2011095/tbl/tbla.11-eng.htm http://www.the10and3.com/the-vast-disparity-in-canadas-high-school-graduation-rates-
00016/
• Many school systems have no fail system. The stats of graduation do not indicate the quality of grads
• Many students, especially in Ontario are struggling with the math and sciences. Jobs of today and the
future require knowledge in areas like math, biology, chemistry, physics, etc. -
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/8001901-eqao-students-fall-further-and-further-behind/
• There has been improvement in education - http://www.red-leaf.com/where-does-the-canadian-
education-system-rank-globally/
• Students are not being encourage to enter the trades - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/skilled-
trades-shortage-costing-windsor-essex-600m-every-year-says-report-1.4168822

8. TEACHING COMPENSATION
Source - http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/81-604-x/2016001/t/tbld2.1-eng.htm
• McGuinty increase teachers compensation
by 25% -
https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2012
/10/31/dalton_mcguinty_regrets_how_teach
ers_unions_were_handled.html
• Pension funding issues -
http://business.financialpost.com/personal-
finance/retirement/ontario-is-reportedly-
going-to-overhaul-its-pension-funding-
obligations-and-ease-rules
• Declining enrolment -
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/blogs/school
-enrolment-in-canada-a-snapshot
• School boards have struggle with costs, i.e.
hydro, wages, etc. -
https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/the-
next-ontario/ontarios-school-boards-are-a-
mess-we-made

9. UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD F/S
Source - https://www.ugdsb.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/Financial-Statements-UGDSB-Year-Ended-August-31-2017.pdf
• All school boards spend money on
school maintenance
• Boilers
• Roofs
• Windows
• Flooring

10. NDP AND EDUCATION 1. We have declining enrolment as such schools need
to be reviewed for their operational efficiency!
https://www.thespec.com/opinion-story/7419349-
niagara-school-closures-show-need-for-a-single-
school-system/
2. How are you going to create new jobs? Business has
been cutting back due to labor reforms including
minimum wage hikes -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-
jobs-update-losses-minimum-wage-1.4528669
3. see no emphasis on skills trade, math, sciences
and/or sex education
4. Are you going to deal with teacher’s salaries?
http://business.financialpost.com/executive/careers
/teachers-should-earn-their-high-pay
5. ETFO endorsement -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ndp-
elementary-school-teachers-ndp-endorsement-
1.4656696
6. New teachers cannot find jobs -
http://www.macleans.ca/work/jobs/two-thirds-of-
new-teachers-cant-find-full-time-work/
7. Teacher retirement -
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/
education/anatomy-of-an-ontario-teachers-
paycheque/article6015968/#c-image-0

11. EDUCATION CUTS / ONTARIO
 Teaching Cuts / Toronto - http://www.thestar.com/yourtoronto/education/2015/03/02/perfect-storm-
means-painful-cuts-for-torontos-catholic-school-board.html
 Lack of oversight education - https://tvo.org/article/current-affairs/ontarios-school-boards-are-a-mess-
we-made
 Niagara School Board Cuts - https://cupe.on.ca/niagara-catholic-district-school-boards-plans-cut-front-
line-school-board-workers-will-impact-services-says-cupe-1317/
 Belleville - http://www.intelligencer.ca/2017/06/24/teachers-union-upset-with-school-budget

12. AVERAGE COST FOR SCHOOL /BLUEWATER SCHOOL BOARD
Source - http://www.bwdsb.on.ca/About_Us/home%20page
Bluewater District School
Board currently has
approximately 16,000
students in 39 elementary
schools and 9 secondary
schools. The board
employs about 3,000
permanent and casual
staff. There are 10 elected
trustees on the Board.
The 2017-18 budget continues the board’s
commitment to provide quality education
to its students
and meet the priorities of the strategic plan
through the following measures:
• Implementing investments outlined in
2017-18 labour agreements including
class size reductions, additional
staffing for special education,
programming and other system
Investments
• Responding to changes in funding
levels while ensuring student
achievement and wellbeing
• Addressing surplus school spaces
• Managing increased labour related
costs
• Focusing on efficiencies and
effectiveness in the stewardship of
financial resources
School Operations/Closing

13. DECLINING ENROLMENT
 Many schools are suffering from declining enrollment
 Economic development opportunities in rural areas have been impacted by bad government polices like
hydro rates, carbon taxation, regulations, etc. - http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/2016/10/24/even-
greenest-of-grocers-burned-by-hydro-costs
 PC party would focus on delivering education as well as creating the conditions that would foster
economic growth.
 NDP and Liberals lack a coherent strategy to address rural related issues
 Public Safety Costs
 Declining student enrollment
 Economic development
 Aging rural population

14. BLOG – SKILLS TRADE
 Source - https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/economic-advisers-push-ottawa-focus-business-investment-job-
re-skilling-205533/
 “The overarching goal of the influential Advisory Council on Economic Growth is to help Canadian households add an extra $15,000
to their projected annual pre-tax incomes by 2030.
 In its third wave of recommendations, to be released later this week, the council says Canada urgently needs another $15 billion in
annual investments for adult skills development to help workers adjust to the demands of the rapidly changing labour market.
 The group recommends the creation of an RRSP-type lifelong learning fund that enables workers to accumulate tax-free savings,
combined with contributions from employers and government, in order to cover the cost of developing new skills midway through
their working lives.
 Canada already has educational programs - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policies-education-skills-
development-canada-november-2017
 Canada needs to revamp its post secondary model to better align skills to jobs of today and tomorrow -
https://www.inc.com/business-insider/21-new-jobs-future-robots-automation.html
 Job Retraining programs -The federal government provides funding for post-secondary education via CST Transfers – All job
training programs should be reviewed to ensure money is achieving the outcomes
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/training.html
 Primary and secondary school programs need to be revamp to ensure students are pushed to jobs of the future -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2017-career-management-outlook-on-jobs-canada-and-united-states

15. HAMILTON, ONTARIO – SKILL
TRADES
• The body shop owner said it best “We
need skill labor”
• Wynne has failed the skill trades
• The guy also said it was a photo op
• This is how Wynne confronts the
issues in Hamilton by pushing her
Guarantee Income Program -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ha
milton/wynne-announcement-
hamilton-1.4082476
• Private sector investment leaving
Ontario -
http://business.financialpost.com/o
pinion/another-multinational-
employer-is-fleeing-ontario-and-
the-wynne-government-doesnt-
seem-to-care
• Trades -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ott
awa/ontario-budget-threat-
certified-tradespeople-1.3868990

16. OTHER RESOURCES
 Skills Gap - http://www.thewhig.com/2016/04/05/job-skills-gap-worsening-study-finds
 Slow Economy - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/gross-domestic-product-gdp-canada-july-2016
 Wage Growth - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/wages-and-employment-canada-july-2016
 Housing Costs - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/real-estate-trends-and-analysis-for-canada-
august-2016
 Youth Unemployment - http://debatepost.com/2016/09/14/canada-continues-importing-unskilled-
immigrant-while-unemployment-rate-climbs-to-7/
 Innovation - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/federal-government-programs-to-support-
innovation-and-business
 Career Management/Innovation - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2016-employment-outlook-
canada
 Government Spending - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policies-healthcare-and-
education-canada

17. EMPLOYMENT ISSUE
 Why? We have youth unemployment as well as the economy is sluggish in terms of growth. Job creation is only 200K for 2016,
but the bulk of new jobs are part-time. http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policies-broadcasting-canada-
commentary-and-analysis-november-2016?next_slideshow=1
 There are already issue with job settlement programs in terms of both funding and openings. So, why would we bring in more
new immigrants?
 FYI - https://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/2016/12/09/canada-must-learn-from-mistakes-to-integrate-syrian-refugees-
editorial.html or http://www.macleans.ca/news/canada/a-milestone-looms-for-canadas-syrian-refugees-month-13/
 FYI
 I guess Trudeau's legacy will be "high tax, lower quality of life, high youth unemployment, low business investment and big
government"
 Yazidis
 http://www.calgarysun.com/2017/02/21/trudeau-spending-28m-to-give-1200-refugees-asylum-this-
year?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=recommend-
button&utm_campaign=Trudeau+spending+%2428M+to+give+1%2C200+refugees+asylum+this+year
 Truth about the border rush
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2017/02/24/what-the-canadian-media-ignores-about-canadas-new-
refugee-crisis/?utm_term=.4314b4bad80f

18. USA VS CANADA IMMIGRATION
Are the new immigrants going to have the skills to create
the new googles? Link: Videos -
http://video.lauraingraham.com/Ingraham-slams-
Labrador-on-immigration-So-youre-where-Cantor-is--
26275295?playlistId=15975

19. TEACHING YOUTH TO CODE
 http://techportfolio.net/2017/05/closing-canadas-tech-skills-gap-teach-youth-to-code/
220,000 workers needed: That’s how vast Canada’s tech skills gap could
be by 2020, according to Canadian government and industry experts.
If that gap isn’t closed, many tech companies will be forced to look for
opportunities outside the country, Waveform CEO Kirk Simpson
recently told CBC News.
“If we can find the talent somewhere else, we might open a second
location in the U.S. market or in a European market,” he said. “And those
jobs will not go to Canadians.”

20. FEDERAL BUDGET 2017-2018
 Source – Government of Canada
Issues
• Provinces have policies for apprenticeship that will required modification to support more applicants
• Universities would have to increase classroom space and equipment to support more enrollment in areas like
engineering, math, sciences, IT
• STDC already exist in terms of seed financing. The problem is more money for innovation is that many deals
require bare minimum of $5 to $10M so that would be like 60 deals a year
• There are already innovation funds that both companies and universities/college leverage
• Startup take time to move ideas from incubation to market. FYI – Canada had already been moving to
advance manufacturing, expert farming, clean technology, 3-D printing, Information technology.

21. BLOG – SKILLS TRADE
 Source - https://www.canadianmanufacturing.com/manufacturing/economic-advisers-push-ottawa-focus-business-investment-job-
re-skilling-205533/
 “The overarching goal of the influential Advisory Council on Economic Growth is to help Canadian households add an extra $15,000
to their projected annual pre-tax incomes by 2030.
 In its third wave of recommendations, to be released later this week, the council says Canada urgently needs another $15 billion in
annual investments for adult skills development to help workers adjust to the demands of the rapidly changing labour market.
 The group recommends the creation of an RRSP-type lifelong learning fund that enables workers to accumulate tax-free savings,
combined with contributions from employers and government, in order to cover the cost of developing new skills midway through
their working lives.
 Canada already has educational programs - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policies-education-skills-
development-canada-november-2017
 Canada needs to revamp its post secondary model to better align skills to jobs of today and tomorrow -
https://www.inc.com/business-insider/21-new-jobs-future-robots-automation.html
 Job Retraining programs -The federal government provides funding for post-secondary education via CST Transfers – All job
training programs should be reviewed to ensure money is achieving the outcomes
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/jobs/training.html
 Primary and secondary school programs need to be revamp to ensure students are pushed to jobs of the future -
https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2017-career-management-outlook-on-jobs-canada-and-united-states

22. HAMILTON, ONTARIO – SKILL TRADES
• The body shop owner said it best “We
need skill labor”
• Wynne has failed the skill trades
• The guy also said it was a photo op
• This is how Wynne confronts the
issues in Hamilton by pushing her
Guarantee Income Program -
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/hamil
ton/wynne-announcement-hamilton-
1.4082476

23. EMPLOYMENT / CANADA
 Source – Stats Canada
Ontario may have higher
graduation rates which is a good
thing! However, it is the quality of
student that is the issue at hand.
Many students are told to go to
University as such we have likely
more university/college than the
economy can support.
Wynne and McGuinty’s policies
drove out investment in areas likes
goods producing. Goods producing
jobs tend to pay 25-30% more
than service sector jobs!

24. GOVERNMENT POLICIES / ISSUES
 Trade and FIPA
 CETA new deal
 Government is working on deals with other growth markets like China, India and Africa.
 Clean Technology
 Access to raw materials (Lithium, Vanadium, Rare Metals)
 Skill set in areas like metallurgy or sciences or math
 Partnership with large companies
 Advance Manufacturing
 Requires competitive tax rates (Payroll Taxes, Corporate Taxes, R&D credits, etc)
 Access to new markets
 Streamlining of regulations
 Canada lacks the capacity to increase exports
 Ports/rail/roads/Bridges
 Pipelines

25. OTHER RESOURCES
 Skills Gap - http://www.thewhig.com/2016/04/05/job-skills-gap-worsening-study-finds
 Slow Economy - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/gross-domestic-product-gdp-canada-july-2016
 Wage Growth - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/wages-and-employment-canada-july-2016
 Housing Costs - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/real-estate-trends-and-analysis-for-canada-
august-2016
 Youth Unemployment - http://debatepost.com/2016/09/14/canada-continues-importing-unskilled-
immigrant-while-unemployment-rate-climbs-to-7/
 Innovation - https://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/federal-government-programs-to-support-
innovation-and-business
 Career Management/Innovation - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/2016-employment-outlook-
canada
 Government Spending - http://www.slideshare.net/paulyoungcga/government-policies-healthcare-and-
education-canada