The council that has been set up by the government of Alberta – which is made up of 11 significant sector players – will aid Alberta’s government in better understanding the difficulties, chances, and shifting requirements of Alberta’s workforce. The Minister of Advanced Education will advise the Premier on how to improve postsecondary programming and match Alberta with the needs of the market now and in the future.

“Our government is fixated on luring fresh capital to support the diversification of our economy. To fill the high-paying jobs that are being created in unprecedented numbers in Alberta, we need competent employees. With the assistance of this council, we will be able to meet the challenge of attracting and keeping these competent workers.”

• Jason Kenney, Premier

“The council members are innovators in our province, and I am certain that their distinct perspectives will help ensure that Albertans acquire the skills they need to flourish both today and in the future. This council will assist keep Alberta students and our economy on the right track forward by enhancing collaboration between our post-secondary institutions and industry.”

• Demetrios Nicolaides, Minister of Advanced Education

“I consider it an honour to serve on the Premier’s Council on Skills. This body’s crucial work will help guarantee that our province’s present and future skill demands are met while giving Albertans opportunities for well-paying jobs. The council is a brave and smart action by the government that will aid in coordinating the educational frameworks required to attain the skills essential for our economy with those capabilities.”

• Dennis Perrin, chair, Premier’s Council on Skills and Alberta director, Christian Labour Association of Canada

The formation of a Premier’s Council on Skills satisfies a platform commitment and a suggestion made by the Task Force on Skills for Jobs.

The council will act as a vital conduit between business and government on issues related to skills development and offer vital business insight to help shape government policy. Members of the newly formed Premier’s Council on Skills include:

• Dennis Perrin, Alberta and Prairies director, Christian Labour Association of Canada – council chair
• Brent Allison, CEO, Long View Systems
• Glenn Feltham, interim city manager, City of Medicine Hat ­– council vice-chair
• Ken Gibson, executive director, Alberta Construction Association
• Ron Koslowsky, vice-president, Manitoba division, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters
• Jason Krips, president and CEO, Alberta Forest Products Association
• Gurpreet Lail, president and CEO, Petroleum Services Association of Canada and principal of Lail Consulting
• Tara Lockyer, chief people, culture, brand and communications officer, ATB Financial
• Terry Parker, executive director, Building Trades Alberta
• Darren Reeder, president and CEO, Tourism Industry Association of Alberta
• Tom Snell, president and chair of the board of directors, Columbia College Calgary

Biographies of all members are available on the Premier’s Council on Skills website

The Alberta 2030: Building Skills for Jobs strategy is a transformational vision and direction for Alberta’s higher education system. It will strengthen innovation and the commercialization of research, create a highly skilled and competitive workforce, and forge stronger ties between employers and post-secondary institutions.

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