By Raneem Alozzi and Maggie Macintosh
The province has revoked its funding toward Ryerson University’s second campus in Brampton.
The Ontario government committed $90 million to help the university build a post-secondary site and centre for innovation in Brampton next to the downtown GO station last spring. In a press release published Oct. 23, the province cancelled its commitment.
Ontario is “no longer in a position” to fund the expansion due to a $15-billion deficit, said Merrilee Fullerton, Ontario minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, in the release.
“Our government committed to restore accountability and trust in Ontario’s finances. This includes making difficult decisions about projects across the province,” Fullerton said.
Brampton city council had also made a $150-million commitment toward the campus.
The campus, a partnership between Ryerson and Sheridan College, was anticipated to open in the fall of 2022, offering data-driven science and business programs. It was also going to be home to Cybersecurity Catalyst, a national centre for cybersecurity innovation.
“We recognize that this was a difficult decision for the provincial government,” Ryerson president Mohamed Lachemi said in a statement. “We will continue to work with the government and all of our partners to provide innovative academic programs that offer the critical thinking and problem solving skills needed to succeed and thrive in the modern economy.”
The province has also cancelled funding for Wilfrid Laurier University’s campus in Milton, Ont. and York University’s expansion to Markham.
More to come.
Ted
Not cool and devastating to produce future high skills workforce. This will hurt Ontario for a long time. Ford shouldn’t do so. Expanding schools is also part of the infrastructure spending will benefit people.