(Toronto, March 29, 2011) Ontario's public colleges are pleased with the provincial budget's funding for literacy, instructional equipment and 60,000 new postsecondary places.

 

"The government is equipping Ontario colleges to train the graduates we need to grow the province's economy," said Tony Tilly, chair of Colleges Ontario, which represents the province's 24 public colleges.

 

"It is vital that we support students in achieving basic skills and literacy, and provide them with the equipment they need, to develop the cutting edge job skills required by employers."

 

Funding commitments to postsecondary institutions and students include:

• $44 million over three years for literacy and basic skills.
• $20 million in instructional equipment for 2011-2012.
• $64 million in 2011-2012, rising to $309 million in 2013-14 for operating grants for an additional 60,000 postsecondary places by 2015-16.
• An additional $22.5 million this year for the Summer Jobs Strategy, which targets youth in high-needs neighbourhoods.

 

"The government is acting now to ensure our future is not one of jobs without people and people without jobs," said Tilly. "This budget will increase the number of Ontarians with postsecondary credentials, in order to have the skilled population Ontario needs to create greater prosperity."

 

The budget also includes a commitment to create new multi-year accountability agreements, which ensure that postsecondary institutions operate efficiently and transparently.

 

"We look forward to working with government to create these agreements," said Tilly, who is also the president of Fleming College in Peterborough. "Ontario's colleges are eager to demonstrate wherever possible that we are responsible and responsive partners."

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For more information:

Sally Ritchie
Manager, Media Relations and Communications
Colleges Ontario
647 258-7686
647 217-4109 (Cell)

ritchie@collegesontario.org