#28, I agree there's an excess of so-called "unskilled labor". However, making these folks get degrees won't help anyone except the universities and banks. We have too many degreed people standing figuratively in unemployment lines in America. I can see no reason why that same model of overeducation doesn't apply to Canada.
What's REALLY lacking in Canada and the USA is JOBS. In support of those jobs, and the ones that already exist, is the artificial and unnecessary demand by businesses for degreed employees. Whatever happened to working your way up the ranks of the business, learning as you go? Modern businesses (at least in America) have completely given upon upon the mentoring model for forming career employees. Any fool can see that that is so since American businesses are still and busily SHEDDING employees from their rolls, not adding them!
I tell people all the time that shouldering $40K in school debt just to stand in the unemployment line is FOOLISH. Businesses are just demanding degrees to weed out people both coming in and who are already inside. I call it "superqualification", and it's as socially damaging as it is to bid up the price of a home to 8 times your income. The home didn't change and your economic advantages didn't change; hence, you're in trouble, and some greedy Capitalist fucker is responsible.
Canadians should wise up and learn the European model of apprenticeships for developing career, company employees. Americans would consider that pinko commie leftie socialist crap, so there's no point in arguing the case with them ... but Canada can still be saved. Triage demands that we apply our remaining energy towards cultures that can be saved.