Guigues Hall/Saint Paul University (Ottawa)
On March 8 the Throne Speech delivered from the Ontario legislature unveiled a new five-year Ontario Open Plan in which in was pledged that the province would add 20,000 spaces to the college and university system as well as create a new Ontario Online Institute that will allow students to access programs via the internet. Reaction from the various post-secondary constituencies has been mixed.
The colleges and universities advocacy groups had positive responses. “Greater numbers of people will get the higher education and training they need to achieve success,” said Anne Sado, the chair of Colleges Ontario committee of presidents, and president of George Brown College. “This is an important commitment to people’s futures and to producing a stronger workforce in this new knowledge economy.”
“We look forward to working with the government to address the growing numbers of students seeking university education and to contribute to the province’s goal of ensuring that 70% of the population attains higher education,” said Sheldon Levy, Chair of Council of Ontario Universities and President of Ryerson University.
The Ontario Coalition of University Faculty Associations was more cautious in its response. “Premier McGuinty is framing the expansion of the university system as a question of access,” said chair Mark Langer. “But unless these new students have the benefit of full-time professors, reasonable class sizes and meaningful course choices, you really have to ask the question: access to what?”
Likewise, the Ontario chapter of Canadian Federation of Students was critical in its official response to the government’s announcement. "The additional 20,000 student spaces announced in today's Throne Speech only addresses half of the estimated space needed to accommodate Ontario's future students," said Shelley Melanson, Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students (Ontario). "With Ontario students paying the highest tuition fees in the country, we were disappointed to hear that there were no measures announced to help current students."
For more info: See Funding Ontario's Universities
Comments