Our government believes in the importance of education.

This fact was reflected in our last budget, which boosted spending on higher education and training by $1.5 billion over the next three years.

We want to make sure that any student who wants to go to college or university has that opportunity, and our government has worked hard to ensure that higher education is more accessible than it has been in decades.

We’ve doubled student aid, increased enrolment by 100,000 students at universities and colleges, and provided grants to more than 120,000 students in need.

Locally, MohawkCollege has received $9.2 Million for the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Research and Training Institute – STAART.  Additionally $3.7 million has been dedicated to Mohawk for campus renewal to update, expand and revitalize classrooms, labs and other learning facilities.

McMasterUniversity has benefitted from 16.5 million for the Bachelor of Technology program in Partnership with MohawkCollege.  An additional $22 million has also been invested at McMaster for capital funding.

Further, we’ve introduced initiatives like the Second Career program, which will provide long-term training opportunities for 20,000 recently laid-off unemployed workers. This program will help laid-off unemployed workers get back on their feet and find new careers in a changing economy. 

And we’ve invested $75 million over the next three years to help increase the number of new apprenticeship registrations in skilled trades by 2011-12.

This is why we have introduced new initiatives like the Textbook and Technology Grant, that ensures every full-time student will receive an extra $150 this year to help cover the cost of textbooks, computers and other educational supplies. This will grow to $300 per year in 2010.

There is also the new Distance Grant we’ve launched.Starting this year, eligible students from rural and remote areas who go away to school will get a $300 annual grant to help them return home for visits with their family. Students who live at home and commute regularly more than 80km (one-way) to school will get $500 each semester.

Our government has invested close to $1 billion over the next three years to expand, renovate and modernize Ontario's colleges and universities, creating better learning environments and more space for students. This includes campus renewal funding for all of Ontario universities, funding to expand skills training centres at colleges and training centres, and funding for all Ontario colleges to purchase new and upgraded equipment for students.

And we are providing nearly $17 million over four years to help create 1,750 new internship opportunities for graduate students.

To learn more about what your government is doing for education, contact my constituency office at 905-690-6552.