January 2023 - High Hopes, High Costs - Issue Overview Who is impacted?

There are approximately 200 registered PCCs in Alberta offering a variety of occupational training programs, ranging from truck driving to hairstyling, massage therapy to medical and office assistants, and many other careers. [...] PCCs that operate with integrity and transparency, many of which are Alberta-owned and operated businesses, are also impacted when bad actors impact the reputation and credibility of the entire sector. [...] What is the proposed solution? The Government of Alberta, either through the Ministry of Advanced Education or through the Office of the Auditor General, could conduct a comprehensive review of the Private Career Colleges sector. [...] What needs to be reformed? To ensure that PCC programs offer a safer training pathway for all student consumers, particularly more vulnerable learners, we invite the Government of Alberta to consider the following recommendations: • Increase investment in, and staffing of oversight bodies to strengthen compliance mechanisms and transparency. [...] We offer programs to increase people’s connections, skills, income and assets; support communities and businesses with resources to build the local economy; and advance systems change for poverty reduction and community economic development through policy research and advocacy.