If the goal of new Ontario Premier Ernie Eves was to distance himself from Mike Harris’ legacy, then his most recent Ontario budget is a success, especially when it comes to education.
With a majority of planned tax cuts being delayed in favour of increased funding for healthcare and education, the budget came as a surprise to many opposition and government members alike.
Post-secondary education was a major focus of the budget, which was released on June 17. It was announced that an additional $75 million in operating grants will be given to universities to deal with the impending double cohort. Earlier this year, the University of Toronto said it would only be able to accept one-quarter of the 2,000 extra students expected in 2003 without additional funds.
“The government will now provide full funding for all the additional students that we take on, so we’ll be able to make more of a contribution to the double cohort,” said U of T President Robert Birgeneau. The government has also promised to invest $2.7 billion for infrastructure through its SuperBuild program. “This gives us the probability of getting more funds for the Mississauga and Scarborough campuses,” said Birgeneau. Among the budget’s other initiatives are $1.8 billion for the Ontario Research and Development Challenge Fund and the Ontario Innovation Trust, $16 million in operating funds for northern and rural colleges and universities, and $50 million to give colleges state-of-the-art equipment.
The budget, known around Queen’s Park only as “The Document,” also says the province will consult with students and universities to design the next phase of the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Fund, which aims to help 400,000 students attend university over the next ten years. “I’m very optimistic there will be enough spaces … we are right on track,” said Dianne Cunningham, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities. Birgeneau agreed, saying: “All in all, it’s a fairly positive budget. It’s a significant improvement from where I thought we were going to end up.”
Many pundits remain skeptical. “In his heart of hearts, I don’t think Eves is any different from Harris. He just wants to get elected,” said Henry Jacek, president of the Ontario Confederation of University Faculty Associations.
U of T political science professor Graham White also expressed concern. “The additional money for universities is a welcome installment payment to help make up for years of severe funding cutbacks,” he said. “But when you spread it across the entire Ontario university system…I’m not sure how far it will go.”
