For Immediate Release

April 28, 2008

Ontario Invests In New Equipment For St. Lawrence College
Government Helps Update Learning Environments For Students

NEWS

KINGSTON - Colleges across Ontario will receive a total of $60 million in provincial funding over three years to help them purchase new, modern equipment for classrooms and labs.

St. Lawrence College will receive $322,690this year.  Additional instalments will be made over the next two years.
 
Types of equipment this funding could be used for could include:

• Computers or software for classroom use
• Books or digital materials for libraries
• Equipment or machinery for lab instruction.

All of Ontario’s 24 colleges of applied arts and technologies will receive a portion of funding which they can spend on equipment most needed at the institution.

This funding is part of the $1.5 billion in investments announced in the 2008 Budget for Ontario’s colleges, universities and training programs.  It represents the government’s commitment to ensuring Ontario students have access to the best learning environments with the most current equipment and technology.  
  

QUOTES

"St. Lawrence College has some of the best technology programs in Ontario,” said Gerretsen.  “This funding will help St. Lawrence keep up with changes in the industry and make sure our students in Kingston remain some of the most highly sought-after workers.”

“To compete in tomorrow’s global economy, today’s students must be trained on the most modern, up-to-date equipment and software available.  Investing in our students is an investment in Ontario’s future,” said Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities John Milloy.

QUICK FACTS

• 90.1 per cent of Ontario college graduates last year have already found employment, and 92.6 per cent of their employers are glad they hired them.
• More than 1 million students have graduated from Ontario’s colleges since they were founded in 1967.  In 2005, more than 59,000 students graduated from colleges in Ontario, up from 37,000 per year ten years earlier. 

CONTACT

Holly Wilson
Press Secretary
416-314-6739