Ontario’s Workforce Shortage Coalition will be hosting a round-table strategy session on May 21, 2008, at the Westin Harbour Castle hotel in Toronto, to prioritize the steps Ontario must take to avert a skills shortage crisis in this province.

The strategy session is a follow-up to consultations conducted throughout the province in February and March, including a symposium in Toronto that attracted more than 350 business and community leaders.  At that time, participants indicated an interest in coming together again to spend more time discussing specific ideas and recommendations to avert a skills shortage.

It is vital that we provide the best recommendations possible to the provincial and federal governments. At the May 21 round-table symposium, participants will be asked to examine the input from the first round of consultations, and develop focused recommendations to help shape provincial and national skills strategies.

Clearly, the skills shortage has become a key public policy priority, and the input we have received to date from community leaders helped our political leaders to recognize the urgency of the issue.

Strengthening the skills of Ontario’s workforce was a top priority in the recently released provincial budget at Queen’s Park. As well, the federal government recognizes the importance of this issue. In a recent interview in the Toronto Star, federal Human Resources and Social Development Minister Monte Solberg said the skills shortage is “the most important issue facing the country.”

We need your advice and input now to help shape effective skills strategies to promote Ontario’s future growth and prosperity. The symposium will run from 8:30 a.m. to noon at the Westin Harbour Castle, at 1 Harbour Square, with breakfast available at 8 a.m. We hope you will be able to take part in this important discussion.

To confirm your attendance, please RSVP here.

We look forward to seeing you on May 21.