As previously indicated, dialogue participants were asked to fill out two questionnaires, which would provide additional and more quantifiable assessments of their perspectives. A pre-dialogue questionnaire was administered on the morning of the deliberative dialogue, prior to the start of the dialogue proceedings. A post-dialogue questionnaire, containing the same set of questions as the first, was administered at the end of the deliberative dialogue.

There are several methodological considerations to keep in mind when considering the findings from the pre- and post-dialogue surveys. The findings for each province are based on small sample sizes. As a result, small percentage point differences (for example, in the percentage of respondents "agreeing" with a given issue) are actually reflecting differences between only one or two respondents. The number of participants answering the pre-dialogue questionnaire differed from the number answering the post-dialogue questionnaire. The comparison of pre- and post-dialogue findings must therefore be treated with caution. A more detailed commentary on the methodological considerations can be found in Appendix 3 to this report.

The following provides a summary of key findings across the four Atlantic provinces, as well as Prince Edward Island specific data.

8.1 Summary of Key Findings (Regional)

In each of the Atlantic provinces dialogue sessions, a large majority of participants felt that current problems related to skills needs and the aging workforce were serious. Looking out five years, participants believed that such problems would remain as serious issues in their respective provinces. The conversations held during the deliberative dialogue seemed to reinforce these views.

An overwhelming majority of dialogue participants indicated that responsibility for ensuring their province has the skilled workers it needs is a shared one. While specific comments recorded in the dialogue surveys often cited the need for leadership by government, responses invariably pointed out that all parties - government, business, labour, education, and the NGO community - have a role to play in addressing skills needs.

Through their survey responses, dialogue participants signalled the importance of "many actions on many fronts" when it comes to addressing their province's skills needs. Actions that would encourage investments and participation in training and education; actions that would remove barriers to labour force participation for the unemployed or address literacy issues; actions that would enhance innovation and entrepreneurship; actions that would retain young people and better inform them about career options; all of these were viewed as "important" elements in dealing with skills needs. Not surprising, the vast majority of participants disagreed that inaction, or letting market forces resolve the issues was an option.