Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council and Association of Canadian Community Colleges Working Together to Meet
Primary Agriculture Workforce Challenges
January 15, 2008
OTTAWA – The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council (CAHRC) and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) have signed a memorandum of understanding to engage in collaborative activities that will achieve creative solutions to the human resources issues facing primary agriculture in Canada.
“Labour shortages, lack of access to skills training courses, and other HR issues pose a serious threat to Canada’s primary agriculture sector,” said Terry Murray, Chair of CAHRC. “Working closely with colleges, universities and other training institutes across Canada, our sector council will ensure that agriculture employers and employees have access to the training courses they need to make use of new technologies and to meet changing consumer demands.”
The Memorandum of Understanding signed between CAHRC and ACCC is a formal agreement of these organizations to work together to develop, implement and achieve joint projects and other initiatives that address agriculture’s human resource issues. This includes activities that will increase sector participation in education and training.
“One of our key goals at the ACCC is to increase the relevance and responsiveness of Canada’s network of colleges and institutes to emerging sectoral needs and requirements – particularly, as they relate to labour market challenges,” said James Knight, President of the ACCC. “With the signing of this partnership with CAHRC, our Canadian Agricultural Education Network will be front and centre in collaborative activities to help us achieve this goal.”
As part of the joint agreement, a representative of ACCC will serve as an ex officio member of CAHRC’s Board of Directors. Members of the association and the sector council will also participate in national partnership meetings to develop and implement a work plan of activities and expected outputs for delivery from April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009, and from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010.
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Terry Murray, CAHRC Chair, and James Knight, ACCC President, sign MOU in Ottawa.
The Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council is mandated to research, develop and communicate solutions to the human resource issues identified by Canada’s primary agriculture industry in order to achieve its vision for an adequate, well-trained and motivated workforce that sustains profitable primary agriculture in Canada. The Council is funded through the Government of Canada’s Sector Council Program.
The Association of Canadian Community Colleges is the national and international voice of Canada’s colleges and institutes. Its mandate includes acting as an advocate for member institutions and developing policy advice to government in human resources development and in areas that impact life-long learning.
For more information, contact:
Shannon Sheil |
Michèle Clarke |