Ontario government urged to boost post-secondary funding

Three major organisations representing Ontario’s colleges, universities and business community are urging the province to boost investment in the post-secondary sector, saying the economic threat from the United States underscores the need, write Allison Jones for The Canadian Press and Matt Hutcheson for City News.

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Council of Ontario Universities, and Colleges Ontario released an open letter last week to Colleges and Universities Minister Nolan Quinn and Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, both of whom were reappointed on Wednesday 19 March to those cabinet positions. The groups are calling for increased operating funding and money to expand enrolment, as well as enhanced research funding and stronger partnerships between government, industry and academia.

“Without immediate and effective investments, institutions will be forced to make decisions that compromise the quality of education and limit accessibility, eroding the province’s reputation and ability to attract and retain talent,” the groups wrote. Supporting talent development, upskilling and re-skilling are more important than ever, they wrote, given the potential looming economic disruption and the need for Ontario to become more competitive and self-reliant.
Full report on the Kitchener City News site