Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Ontario government is providing $6 million in capital funding to help Niagara College and Brock University address a deferred maintenance backlog, fund critical repairs and upgrades.
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 $2.5 million to Niagara College and $3 million to Brock University to help address maintenance, repair, renovation and modernization projects. 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.
“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,” said Dr. Fearon, president of Brock University.
This expected 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
- $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.
“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,” Kennedy said.