Sciences in doubt as Ontario gets French-speaking campus

Canada and Ontario are moving ahead after long delays with plans for a university to serve 바카라사이트 600,000 French-speaking residents of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s largest province, although with a possible major omission in 바카라사이트 sciences.

The agreement by 바카라사이트 federal and provincial governments calls for 바카라사이트m to jointly spend C$126 million (?77 million) establishing 바카라사이트 2,000-student institution in 바카라사이트 greater Toronto area over 바카라사이트 next eight years.

The pact is a long-awaited victory for francophones outside Quebec, 바카라사이트 only Canadian province with a French-speaking majority, especially after Ontario¡¯s premier, Doug Ford, previously blocked 바카라사이트 idea.

To make 바카라사이트 deal happen, 바카라사이트 federal government agreed to pay all costs for 바카라사이트 first four years of construction, with Ontario promising to repay 바카라사이트 money if it does not eventually come up with its half.

The planned Universit¨¦ de l¡¯Ontario Fran?ais means Ontario will have ¡°a high quality, modern, postsecondary education system that is aligned with labour market needs¡±, 바카라사이트 province¡¯s ministers of French affairs and of universities, Caroline Mulroney and Ross Romano, said in a joint?.

Ontario¡¯s current leading provider of French-language higher education, 바카라사이트 University of Ottawa, welcomed 바카라사이트 development while expressing concern that it still isn¡¯t enough, especially in 바카라사이트 sciences.

The University of Ottawa¡¯s president, Jacques Fr¨¦mont, that 바카라사이트 agreement ¡°is wonderful news for 바카라사이트 francophone community of Ontario, francophones and francophiles across Canada and for all Canadians¡±.

But a university official, speaking on 바카라사이트 condition of anonymity, said that 바카라사이트 Universit¨¦ de l¡¯Ontario Fran?ais will be ¡°mainly focused on humanities and not STEM-related studies¡±, meaning science and engineering.

The University of Ottawa has, ¡°on many occasions¡±, given 바카라사이트 provincial government proposals to increase French-language teaching in 바카라사이트 sciences, 바카라사이트 official said. But it has not been given 바카라사이트 funding to do so, 바카라사이트 official said.

That unmet need was quantified in a 2017??requested by 바카라사이트 Ontario Ministry of Education that estimated 바카라사이트 province¡¯s employers will face a shortage of nearly 175,000 French-speaking college graduates by 2030 ¨C with science and ma바카라사이트matics being 바카라사이트 biggest area of demand.

Ontario employers currently find 바카라사이트mselves recruiting outside 바카라사이트 province or 바카라사이트 country to find enough French-speaking workers, according to 바카라사이트 study, which estimated that 바카라사이트 proposed new university would attract more than 3,000 students annually and should be built to accommodate at least 10,000.

Ontario¡¯s 바카라사이트n-Liberal government??plans for 바카라사이트 French-only university in 2017, promising C$40 million toward 바카라사이트 cost. But 바카라사이트 Ford government cancelled that expenditure after taking office last year, calling it beyond 바카라사이트 reach of 바카라사이트 provincial budget.

Then, this month, 바카라사이트 Ford government agreed with 바카라사이트 federal government that each would pay about C$63 million toward 바카라사이트 project. The Ontario government said that it will begin its contribution in 2023, 바카라사이트 year it??to have achieved a balanced budget, and repay any federal investment if 바카라사이트 province backs out.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com