Role of the Ministry
The Constitution Act gives exclusive authority to each province in Canada to make laws in relation to education. In Ontario, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Development are responsible for the administration of laws relating to education and skills training.
Employment Ontario: Ontario's Employment and Training Network
The Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development operates Employment Ontario, a one-stop source of information and services for students, job seekers and employers.
As the operator of Employment Ontario, the Ministry is responsible for:
- delivering employment and training services to the public across the province
- developing policy directions for employment and training
- setting standards for occupational training, particularly for trades under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act
- managing provincial programs to support workplace training and workplace preparation, including apprenticeship, career and employment preparation, and adult literacy and basic skills
- undertaking labour market research and planning
Postsecondary Education
In the area of postsecondary education, the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development is responsible for:
- developing policy directions for universities and colleges of applied arts and technology
- planning and administering policies related to basic and applied research in this sector
- authorizing universities to grant degrees
- distributing funds allocated by the provincial legislature to colleges and universities
- providing financial-assistance programs for postsecondary school students
- registering private career colleges