April 10, 2019 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada
International education and immigration are key drivers of Canada's current and future prosperity. Being open to skilled workers from abroad means that our labour market is more global, and their skills in turn drive the growth of our businesses and our economy.
The Honourable Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification, is in Edmonton, Alberta, for two days to promote Budget 2019 investments in international education and the new opportunities arising from Canada's trade diversification strategy for Canadian businesses.
Minister Carr will deliver a keynote address at the annual general meeting of Universities Canada to highlight the importance of the government's investments in international education and of Canada's International Education Strategy, which reaffirm Canada's standing as a high-calibre place to study and do research.
While in Edmonton, the Minister and key representatives from the canola sector will participate in a round-table discussion hosted by the Alberta Canola Producers Commission.
Following the round table, Minister Carr will tour two local businesses, Wild Prairie Soap and Serious Labs, which have both leveraged the Government of Canada's CanExport program and Trade Commissioner Service to expand into markets abroad.
"Our goal is to attract international students who will be successful and productive in the Canadian labour market and in communities across the country. At the same time, we aim to strengthen ties abroad. Welcoming international students contributes more than $21.5 billion annually to Canada's trade balance, and those who choose to remain in Canada after graduation make lasting contributions to our economy, communities and culture."
- Jim Carr, Minister of International Trade Diversification
Quick facts
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Through Budget 2019, the Government of Canada is investing $147.9 million over five years toward the International Education Strategy, with $8 million per year ongoing to help Canadian post-secondary students gain the skills needed to succeed in a global economy and to attract the best and brightest international students to Canada.
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Through its trade diversification strategy, the government will invest $1.1 billion over six years to help Canadian businesses grow and diversify their exports.
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The trade diversification strategy also plans investments of $290 million over five years to strengthen the Trade Commissioner Service and enhance the support it provides to Canadian exporters.
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To date, the CanExport program has supported more than 1,200 Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises with 1,500 projects to expand their markets and increase export activities in more than 110 markets around the world.
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The Government of Canada is helping to drive innovation in Canada's canola industry with a federal investment of $12 million in a new canola research cluster. With investment from canola producers, the total investment will top $20 million.
