Colleges Ontario

TORONTO, May 2, 2005 - The McGuinty government must use its May 11 budget to reinforce the Rae report and make major investments in Ontario's colleges, the college presidents said today.

"Premier Dalton McGuinty has said his government will 'breathe some life' into the Rae report in this spring budget," said Dr. Rick Miner, Chair of the Committee of Presidents of the Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology of Ontario (ACAATO). "To make this real, there must be significant increases this year in funding to colleges."

In his comprehensive review of postsecondary education, former premier Bob Rae said Ontario must produce greater numbers of skilled college graduates in order to remain internationally competitive. To produce more graduates, Rae said the colleges need an additional $400 million by 2007-08.

Currently, Ontario is 10th of the 10 provinces in Canada in per-student revenue to colleges. Ontario's colleges need to invest new funding in priority areas such as new faculty and staff, new resources and lab equipment, and new industry-standard technology and training methods.

To reinforce their message, Ontario's colleges recently launched an edgy advertising and on-line campaign, www.fundcollegesnow.ca, which promotes the importance of college education in today's high-tech economy.

"Bob Rae was right. It is unacceptable to have only half of the young people in Ontario accessing a postsecondary education," said Miner. "Ontario must commit to the skills and training of its workforce."

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For further information:

Rob Savage
ACAATO Communications,
(416) 596-0744, ext. 239