Poulin pushing for more English training programs
Saint-francois Liberal Party candidate Charles Poulin held a press conference yesterday to announce his intention to support more English technical programs at Champlain College to keep youth in the area, as well as a commitment to help build a Cancerology Centre at the CIUSSS de l’estriechus if elected.
According to Poulin, one of the concerns raised by the English population during his door-to-door visits in the community was that young people leave the province to study and in many cases, opt not to return.
By increasing the availability of technical training programs, Poulin suggested youth might be more inclined to stay in the area, which would help resolve the labour shortage faced by many Quebec businesses.
When asked how English technical programs would help with youth retention in a province where most job opportunities are in French, Poulin explained that a large number of students leaving the province are bilingual.
English is an asset in many businesses with dealings outside of Quebec and the tourism industry, he commented. With access to more programs, English youth, many of whom are bilingual, might consider staying in the area to study, rather than leaving and being enticed with job opportunities while away.
Poulin added that if elected, he would work with the Cégep de Sherbrooke to get the financing for a simulation centre for clinical training.
During the conference, Poulin also said he would support the construction of a new interdisciplinary centre for research and study as well as the treatment of cancer.