The Canadian Council on Learning comes face-to-face with parliamentarians to
deliver a comprehensive report on lifelong learning

OTTAWA, March 30 /CNW Telbec/ - Today the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) will meet with a group of MPs and senators to report on its major findings and conclusions from six years of intensive, quality research. Since 2004, CCL has worked to identify the most effective methods to ensure learning by Canadians through every stage of life, from early childhood through adulthood. It is widely accepted that lifelong learning is the key to Canada's future economic prosperity.

In a letter to Prime Minister Harper in 2009, the head of the OECD complimented Canada for its government's support for CCL's remarkable work. But CCL's funding agreement with the government of Canada expires on March 31. CCL has invited parliamentarians to a public forum not only to look back, but also to identify the priorities for action going forward. The stakes could not be higher for our country.

CCL's principal findings and recommendations for the way forward in all phases of learning will be distributed to all parliamentarians and media attending.

CCL will also be using this opportunity to release its 2009-2010 report, State of Learning in Canada: A Year In Review.

The President and CEO of CCL, Paul Cappon, will also tell parliamentarians some basic truths, among them:

    
    -   Canada has much going for it in learning - but just as much to be
        troubled with

    -   As in the financial industry, so too in learning: past performance is
        no guarantee of future returns

    -   We must look to Canada's future ability to compete internationally
        and ask, without flinching, if we are setting conditions for
        success - or for failure.

    -   Canada needs a coherent approach to lifelong learning or a "learning
        architecture"

    -   It is not too late to get things right, but the clock is ticking and
        our international competitors are already on the move. We must decide
        now that our learning strategies will be more effective, better
        organized, and constantly monitored, or the 21st century for
        Canadians will be painful. Better organized competitors will eat our
        lunch.
    

For more information, please visit www.ccl-cca.ca/takingstock2010

The Canadian Council on Learning is an independent, not-for-profit corporation funded through an agreement with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada. Its mandate is to provide evidence-based information to Canadians so they can make the best decisions about learning throughout all stages of life, from early childhood through to the senior years.

For further information: Sheena Powell, [phone] ext. 217, Canadian Council on Learning, 1410-50 O'Connor Street, Ottawa, ON, K1P 6L2