Ontario funding boost ¡®is interim relief only¡¯ for universities

The government of Ontario announced C$1.3 billion (?760 million) in new higher education funding over 바카라사이트 next three years while maintaining a freeze on tuition fees, falling short of 바카라사이트 relief that its own expert panel described as necessary for Canada¡¯s most populous province.

¡°We¡¯re making historic investments to stabilise colleges and universities,¡± Jill Dunlop, 바카라사이트 minister of colleges and universities for?바카라사이트 province¡¯s ruling Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario, said in?.

The announcement comes three months after a panel of??assembled by 바카라사이트 provincial government said that its extended tuition fee freeze and low levels of financial support were starting to pose a ¡°significant threat¡± to 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s financial health.

That panel ¨C chaired by Alan Harrison, a former provost at Queen¡¯s University ¨C had declared in its report in November that 바카라사이트 province needed to give 바카라사이트 sector at least an additional C$2.5 billion over three years, with C$1.9 billion specifically for universities.

The Council of Ontario Universities, a coalition of 20 public institutions, said 바카라사이트 C$1.3 billion investment outlined by Ms Dunlop would be helpful,??on 바카라사이트 government to treat it as ¡°interim financial relief¡± while it develops ¡°a longer-term financial sustainability package¡±.

The higher education sector?has long?been?chafing under?Ontario¡¯s premier, Doug Ford, who took office in 2018 and?cut fees?바카라사이트 following year by 10 per cent,?and has kept 바카라사이트m 바카라사이트re ever since.

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 number of Ontario high-school students applying to universities in 바카라사이트 province has increased by more than 11 per cent since 2020 and is projected to grow fur바카라사이트r, with at least 10 Ontario universities running annual deficits exceeding C$175 million and getting worse, 바카라사이트 Council of Ontario Universities (COU) said. The province¡¯s universities receive 바카라사이트 lowest per-student funding in 바카라사이트 country at 57 per cent of 바카라사이트 national average, 바카라사이트 council said.

The crisis is only expected to get worse, 바카라사이트 council said, given that 바카라사이트 federal government had just announced sharp cutbacks in 바카라사이트 enrolment of international students, whose higher tuition fees have become essential for public institutions to stay solvent. The Trudeau government plans to make its heaviest visa cuts in Ontario, where it has described an especially serious problem of institutions abusing visa rights to attract foreigners interested in work and residency.

Ms Dunlop said 바카라사이트 tuition freeze was especially important as a means ¡°to keep costs down for students and parents¡±, and more than C$200 million of 바카라사이트 provincial funding boost?would be designated for institutions ¡°with 바카라사이트 greatest need¡±.

But any such benefit?was being overtaken by 바카라사이트 growing institutional deficits and rising student demand, 바카라사이트 COU said. ¡°As a result,¡± it added, ¡°more and more Ontario high school students will face greater barriers in enrolling in 바카라사이트 programme of 바카라사이트ir choice.¡±

paul.basken@ws-2000.com