FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5th, 2004

“The Sound You Hear is Another Future Liberal Promise Breaking”

(Queen’s Park) – Laurie Scott, M.P.P. for Haliburton-Victoria-Brock and Progressive Conservative Party critic for training, colleges and universities warned today that the decisions being made in the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities with respect to capital funding for campus expansion should be watched closely by all boards of governors and chancellors across Ontario.

Ms. Scott said, “ The college and university sector should be very concerned about the lack of support being shown the Ontario Institute of Technology today. These decisions are the “thin edge of the wedge” with regards to under funding the needed capital expenditures in this area if these schools are to meet the expansion targets set out by this government.”

There have been many signals sent out by the government about their lack of support for the loan guarantees, which the Institute needs to complete its important capital expansion. “Dalton McGuinty and the Ontario Liberals made a campaign commitment to expand post-secondary capacity by at least 10%. (promise #75)”Laurie said. “How do they expect to keep this promise if they will not support the plans of the Ontario Institute of Technology.”

“This issue should be watched closely by all colleges and universities in Ontario. If they will not support this important expansion why would they support any other?” Ms. Scott said.

Jim Flaherty, M.P.P. for Whitby-Ajax and Progressive Conservative Party critic for education stated, “I am very concerned that the government appears to be playing politics with the future of the UOIT and its students. This is an innovative, technical university that is vitally important to Durham Region and the province. I am shocked tha the government would even consider abandoning the commitment to this world-clas university.”

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