June 17th, 2021

Ford delayed Milton university campus by years

KITCHENER — NDP critic for Colleges and Universities, Laura Mae Lindo, said Doug Ford has delayed Milton’s university campus by years with his deep cuts.

Doug Ford scrapped the Milton university campus in 2018 because he didn’t want to spend the money. On Thursday, Milton campus of Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College announced they had found a way forward — without any capital investment from the province.

“In 2018, Doug Ford cut university plans for Milton, Markham and Brampton because he didn’t want to spend the money on students,” said Lindo. “He still doesn’t. Thursday’s announcement doesn’t come with a penny for getting this campus built. An entire generation of students from the Milton area have been denied a chance to continue their education close to home, thanks to Doug Ford’s cuts and years of delays.”

Doug Ford has also slashed funding for universities and colleges. He cut $700 million from the sector in his 2018 budget, and has never replaced that money. He’s also planning to cut deeper by tying university funding to politically-determined metrics.