For Immediate Release February 17, 2006
MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE NEW FUNDING TO ST. LAWRENCE COLLEGE
Investment Recognizes Unique Challenges, Additional Costs
KINGSTON — Students at St. Lawrence College will benefit from a $451,272 investment that will enhance learning opportunities and improve student success, MPP John Gerretsen announced today on behalf of Chris Bentley Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
“Colleges help to promote economic development in Kingston and across the province by training and preparing our students,” said Gerretsen. “St. Lawrence College is an integral part of our community. It creates jobs and serves as a hub for community involvement.”
The government is investing $10 million in 2005-06 to help small, northern and rural colleges increase access to high quality programs in their communities. This investment will rise to $20 million in 2007-08. The additional funding augments existing northern and rural funding for colleges which increased from $38.4 million in 2004-05 to $41.7 million in 2005-06.
“We are strengthening our province by strengthening our most important competitive advantage – our people,” said Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. “Our government recognizes that Ontario’s small, northern and rural colleges face special challenges, including higher costs to provide the same services as their larger, urban counterparts. This funding will help to create a level playing field and ensure students at these colleges will have opportunities for a high quality education.”
First announced in the 2005 Budget, the additional funding will be used to enable small, northern and rural colleges to increase their program offerings, improve access for their students, including typically under-represented groups, and to improve student success. These investments are expected to result in higher educational achievement and improvements in academic retention, enrolment and graduation.
“Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to rural Ontario,” said Leona Dombrowsky, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “Rural education is a key priority of the McGuinty government, and this funding for rural colleges shows we’re delivering results.”
“Our government continues to work to ensure Northern communities have the tools needed to address challenges unique to this vast region,” said Northern Development and Mines Minister Rick Bartolucci. “We are strongly engaged in promoting prosperity in Northern Ontario. Today is another example of our commitment to the North and, particularly, its students.”
Through its Reaching Higher Plan, the government is investing $6.2 billion in Ontario’s postsecondary system over the next five years – the single largest, multi-year investment in 40 years. This includes $20 million to be allocated by 2007-08 for small, northern and rural colleges. The goal of the plan is to help these colleges to improve quality, accessibility and accountability in postsecondary education.
“Our government is investing in the foundations of learning so that our postsecondary students get the very best education possible,” said Gerretsen. “This is about standing up for our students.”
-30-
