Everyone wants to avoid the Forum’s being a replay of
some of the eels debates we have had in this country about the
specifics of the post-secondary education financing
arrangements. The Forum is a much-needed opportunity for
dialogue and cooperation among al! sectors of our society -

government, business, scientists, educators and young people.

| see the Forum also as an occasion for the federal
government to show leadership in the critical area of higher
education and university research. | don’t mean a leadership
based on contro! and supervision - which inevitably leads to
confrontation and discord —- but one which was defined so wel! by
the Honourable Claude Ryan in a 1984 conference on
federal-provincial issues: "A leadership of inspiration,

encouragement, and support.”

The Forum will enable us to look to the future with a
broader vision, to examine the issues and opportunities facing

our universities and colleges, and to help ready us for the

challenges of the next century.