A submitted news release from the Ontario government :
ST. CATHARINES – The Ontario government is investing $6,166,900 in capital funding to help Niagara College and Brock 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 Friday at Brock University in St. Catharines by Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West, along with Dr. Gervan Fearon, President of Brock University, and Sean Kennedy, President of Niagara College.
“Well-maintained facilities and the latest in learning tools and equipment are critical parts of a postsecondary education,” said MPP Oosterhoff.
“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 $2,469,100 to Niagara College and $2,952,800 to Brock University to help address the ongoing need for maintenance, repair, renovation and modernization of existing facilities. The 2020-21 FRP funding represents an increase of more than $1.7 million to Niagara College and $1.4 million to Brock University over and above last year.
As part of the College Equipment and Renewal Fund (CERF), the government is also providing $745,000 in capital funding to help Niagara 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.
“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 Ross Romano, Minister of Colleges and Universities.
“That is why our government is committed to providing annual funding that will help our colleges and universities renew and modernize their facilities.”
“This is very important support for Ontario’s critical post-secondary infrastructure, and at Brock we applaud the vision shown by the provincial government for making this investment,” said Dr. Fearon, President of Brock University.
“Having fully up-to-date and effective education and research facilities is crucial to having the graduates and talent that will help Ontario be one of North America’s most competitive and innovative jurisdictions.”
“We are grateful to the province for the important funding that they have announced today,” said Sean Kennedy, President of Niagara College.
“As we look beyond the pandemic, this investment helps to ensure that our learning environments and equipment will support the critical role that Niagara College will play in the economic recovery of our region.”
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.
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