May 10th, 2016: The Honorable Jean Charest, 29th Premier of Québec and former Deputy Prime Minister of Canada, has been discussing some of the foremost political and social challenges facing the global community, during a recent visit to Canadian University Dubai (CUD).
In the presence of Canadian Consul General, His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Kamarianakis, Mr. Charest spoke to faculty, staff and students of the University, sharing his expert insights drawn from almost three decades in domestic and international politics, and revealing his thoughts on the future of higher education, human mobility, and environmental sustainability.
Drawing comparisons between the UAE and his homeland, he said that the next generation will be characterized by the movement of labor across countries and continents. Mr. Charest, who was responsible for a ground-breaking labor mobility agreement between France and Québec during his career, said that, like Dubai, Québec benefits from a hugely diverse population, which is important in the growth and diversification of its business landscape.
Going on to discuss the role of education in the modern economy, Mr. Charest said that there are still employment opportunities for people of all skill levels, but that educators should focus upon addressing the disconnect between the skills taught, and those required in the labor market.
As the former Canadian Minister of Environment, the discussions continued towards the sustainability and climate change agenda, with Mr. Charest revealing how cities and regions are now taking the lead in developing innovative solutions to promote energy efficiency and conservation.
Reflecting on his experiences, including leading Canada’s delegation at the 1992 Earth Summit on the economy and the environment, and implementing ground breaking legislation on sustainable development, Mr. Charest discussed the economic instruments that could be used to reduce greenhouse gases and address climate change.
Concluding with his insights for the future, Mr. Charest said that technology would have an important role in shaping the sustainability agenda moving forward, and a pivotal moment would be the development of the capability to store energy from renewable sources.
Following his talk, Mr Charest took a tour of the University campus, and was presented with a unique piece of artwork painted by renowned Canadian artist and CUD visiting Lecturer, Mr. Sylvain Tremblay.
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