Ontario Increases Funding to Canadore College and Nipissing University
November 25, 2020Investment will help create safe learning environment and prepare students for in-demand jobs
North Bay – The Ontario government is investing $ 3,781,500 in capital funding to help Canadore College and Nipissing University address their deferred maintenance backlog, undertake critical repairs and upgrades, and provide a modern and safe learning environment for students, faculty and staff. The announcement was made today by Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing.
“Well-maintained facilities and the latest in learning tools and equipment are critical parts of a postsecondary education,” said MPP Fedeli. “By investing in postsecondary infrastructure, our government is supporting economic recovery, creating jobs and ensuring students obtain the skills they need for the in-demand jobs of today and tomorrow.”
As part of the Facilities Renewal Program (FRP), the province is providing $1,738,000 to Canadore College and $1,648,700 to Nipissing University in capital funding to address the ongoing need for maintenance, repair, renovation and modernization of its existing facilities. The 2020-21 FRP funding represents an increase of more than $1.3 million for Canadore College and $1.2 million for Nipissing University over and above last year.
As part of the College Equipment and Renewal Fund (CERF), the government is also providing $394,800 in capital funding to help Canadore College purchase and renew instructional equipment and learning resources. For 2020-21, CERF funding can also be used to purchase equipment to support student virtual learning during COVID-19.
“Canadore College appreciates the additional support from the provincial government,” said George Burton, Canadore College President and CEO. “Canadore continues to evolve its learning environment to ensure that our facilities remain world-class, our graduates are meeting the needs of employers, and the students and employees remain safe in the face of COVID-19. Specifically, the College will use the additional funds to introduce new technologies into our learning environment in order to meet the needs of the changing economy.”
“This investment in our campus facilities will go a long way in ensuring that we are able to continue to offer students an exceptional environment for learning both inside and outside of the classroom,” said Cheryl Sutton, President & Vice-Chancellor (Interim) of Nipissing University.
“The first-class education students receive at our postsecondary institutions is critical to the future of Ontario, our economy, and the prosperity of our people, said Minister Romano. “That is why our government is committed to providing annual funding that will help our colleges and universities renew and modernize their facilities.”
QUICK FACTS
- As announced in the 2020 Ontario Budget, Ontario’s Action Plan: Protect, Support, Recover, the Ontario government is making an investment in critical maintenance, repairs, upgrades and renewals of $466 million in capital grants over three years starting in 2020-21 for Ontario’s universities and colleges. This investment under the Facilities Renewal Program (FRP) includes:
– $144 million in 2020-21, an increase of $73 million over last year,
– $144 million in 2021-22, and
– $178 million in 2022-23. - In addition to the $144 million investment in FRP funding for 2020-21, the Ontario government is investing $20 million through the College Equipment and Renewal Fund (CERF) to help Ontario colleges purchase and renew instructional equipment and learning resources.
- Established in 1986, the FRP provides annual funding to assist universities and colleges with renewing and modernizing their campuses through the repair, renovation and alteration of existing facilities.
- Established in 2002, the CERF provides annual funding to help publicly-assisted colleges acquire and renew instructional equipment and learning resources.