Summary of Recommendations

9. Establish Prior Learning Assessment measures, ensuring portability and transferability of skills, knowledge and certification across jurisdictional boundaries. Procedures for establishing Canadian equivalence for foreign credentials are an essential component.

10. Expand distance education networks to ensure that rural, remote and northern Canadians and those with limited access to transportation can complete a post-secondary education in a suitable field of study.

11. Job creation strategies, pay equity, employment equity and measures for the integration of paid and unpaid work responsibilities, such as comprehensive child care are essential if women are to realize an adequate return on their investment in post-secondary education.

12. Job creation must be a priority. Job-related training which does not lead to available jobs which offer adequate long term income security is a waste of time and money for everyone concerned.

13. Address systemic barriers to the integration of women into the labour market, including recognition of the diverse needs of various groups of women. Legislated measures in areas including pay equity, employment equity, child care and duty to accommodate are required if women, visible minorities and disabled people are to gain adequate value from training.

14. Preserve the voluntary nature of training. Coercive measures are unacceptable. UI funds should not be used for training. Social assistance should not be tied to training in any way. Training should be funded through Consolidated Revenues. Resource allocations to training should be restored to 1989 levels immediately.

15. Training for women needs to be high quality training, supported by principles and standards which are enforced through training agreements. Mechanisms for the allocation of training resources need to recognize the needs of women who are not currently in the labour market, who are self-employed or who are working at part-time, temporary contract or 'non-standard' work and must include women who are representative of diverse groups as decision makers. In this regard, sectoral councils do not address the working lives of many Canadian women.