COLLEGES AND INSTITUTES CANADA
CICan Welcomes Investments to Strengthen Indigenous Talent and Economic Participation

At a defining moment for Canada's economic future, the country needs the capacity to build, operate and innovate on its own terms. As place-based institutions deeply connected to the communities and industries they serve, Canada's public colleges, institutes, CEGEPs, polytechnics and Indigenous Institutes of Education are ready to help turn that ambition into results. Building on investments announced earlier this year, including the $8-billion Team Canada Strong initiative, the Budget recognizes that Canada's ambitions in infrastructure, housing, energy and defence must be matched by the people and skills required to make them a reality.

Last month, CICan, alongside the Indigenous Institutes Consortium, gathered with 360 members, Indigenous leaders, students and partners for its annual National Indigenous Education Symposium, focused on supporting the next generation of Indigenous learners through education, workforce development, and economic prosperity. Budget 2026 advances these objectives through the $451.8 million Partnerships for Indigenous Workforce Readiness Fund and $437.9 million investment in the Post-Secondary Student Support Program to support Indigenous learners. Indigenous Institutes of Education, alongside colleges and institutes working in partnership with local Indigenous communities, are leaders in connecting skills development and employment opportunities with community priorities. CICan also supports the investment of $170 million in Workforce Tariff Response to support training and employment services for workers affected by trade disruptions.

Together, these commitments reinforce the importance of accessible, industry-responsive public training: Canada's colleges and institutes are essential delivery partners.

The Budget also puts a premium on investments and measures to boost national innovation and productive capacity. CICan is especially encouraged by the government's commitment to review and modernize Tri-Council policies to strengthen the commercialization of publicly funded research and increase technology transfer capacity across post-secondary institutions. Driving Canadian business innovation through demand-driven applied research partnerships is our bread and butter. These modernization measures respond to CICan's longstanding advocacy for federal research programs to fully recognize and leverage colleges' role in Canada's innovation ecosystem, as critical partners with Canadian SMEs in turning emerging technologies into practical economic outcomes. The next step should be ensuring our full and equitable access to federal research and innovation programs, leveraging sector capacity to move publicly funded research into the hands of Canadian SMEs and accelerate commercialization, technology adoption and productivity.

Budget 2026's emphasis on trade diversification and strategic international alliances creates opportunities for colleges and institutes to help Canadian businesses access new markets through applied research, workforce training and system-level skills partnerships in key sectors. Skills infrastructure is economic infrastructure - ensuring the sector is centred in Canada's international trade strategy will be important to translating these ambitions into economic opportunities.

The budget's focus on attracting and retaining international talent is also encouraging, particularly the proposed pathways to permanent residence for those already contributing to Canada's economy. With the 2027-2029 Immigration Levels Plan now released, CICan will continue to advocate for a "both/and" approach that recognizes the full range of talent Canada needs, including public college graduates and skilled tradespeople.

From housing and critical infrastructure to energy, defence and major projects, Canada's ambitions depend on the skilled workforce needed to build, operate and sustain them. Delivering that vision requires investments in place-based capacity to match the federal government's level of ambition. CICan calls for dedicated infrastructure funding for public post-secondary institutions to expand skilled trades training capacity, ensuring Canada can actually deliver these national missions. CICan members are essential delivery infrastructure to build and operate major projects, drive small business innovation and commercialization, and support communities across the country to prosper and thrive.

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"Canada cannot control what happens beyond our borders, but we can control how prepared we are to respond and better yet, lead. Budget 2026 recognizes that preparation starts at home, with the people, infrastructure and innovation capacity we need to build, operate, innovate, and prosper. Canada's colleges and institutes are ready to turn these investments into results for businesses, communities and Canadians."

Pari Johnston, President and CEO, Colleges and Institutes Canada