Ontario Invests $9.5 Million at Confederation College
by Scott A. Sumner
Thunder Bay Business
Althougth the weather was overcast in Thunder Bay, preventing Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty from arriving in the city, the sky turned golden with an announcement of a $9.5 million investment in Confederation College’s infrastructure. The funds will be used to
introduce new and expanded programs so students can train for new careers as welders, miners and construction workers.
“ We appreciate your ongoing support of the college. This is a very exciting day at Confederation College. We can invest in our natural resources program, our transportation program and our manufacturing program. There is a shortage of skilled trades and technicians even today in NW Ontario, the Province and Canada. Your investment will allow us to increase our enrollment by 300 a 30% increase in our technical students,” said Pat Lang, President of Confederation College.
“ The second career strategy of your government will help those laid off to get back to the workforce. The Dorian and McIntyre building will be upgraded to buildings that are environmentally rponsible. We are giving you a golf club, golf clothes and a bag to carry your shoes with our college logos. Mr. Premier we see you as driving the economy and having a great long game plan for education with your government. Thank you for creating a hole in one for us today.”
The premier is clearly a leader who sees the importance of education in the global environment. Both Michael and myself have been proud of the leadership in the investments the premier has made in education,” noted Bill Mauro.
Also on hand was Minister of Northern Development and Mines. Michael Gravelle. “ It is wonderful to be here and I would like to thank the premier for coming to the Northwest. This means so much to all of us in NW Ontario. Despite the challenges we face there are some
great opportunities as the economy changes. We have a shortage of 92,000 skilled workers in the mining industry across Canada and this will help.”
Dalton McGuinty spoke via telephone to the assembled group in the Dorian building making his announcement and later to media on several topics.
“ I am happy to be back in NW Ontario where the air is clean, the water fresh and the blackflies hungry. Over 91% of your graduates (Confederation College ) get a job in 6 months from graduation which is a tremendous accomplishment. We need your help when our economy is
being challenged. We don’t have oil and gas like Alberta or an endless supply of power like Quebec but we do have 13 million people. Ontario now has the highest rate of post secondary education in the western world which is a great achievement. We have 100,000 job in trades we can’t fill so we need more trades training opportunities. I am here on behave of 13 million Ontarians who know we need to work together. We are investing $9.5 million and know we get great value from Confederation College. You will add 300 more spots for trades students.
We need miners, construction workers and welders in our economy. We need to work together and stick together so we can succeed together.
Why did we do this?
I want young people to understand that Ontario is the best Province, in the best country in the world and to have the best training opportunities and when they start up there family to have a sense of optimistic attitude. Our colleges are so wed to their communities and the economy of the city and how it is unfolding and evolving. You can’t a job for life now but your employability will be for life so our colleges can do retraining.
Big Thunder
I would like to see a business plan on the project and will take a look at what we can do.
Waterfront Project
We have been applying additional infrastructure funds at the end of the year to cities.
Mining Act
We know we have to make some changes to the Mining Act and want to strike some balance.We have a vibrant mining sector and want to continue to grow the field as well as show respect for our aboriginal communities.
Economy
We have had a negative quarter in our economy but the private sector feel we will experience modest positive growth next. We have a contingency fund built into our budget if we need it. We will watch closely what is happening in the US as they are our largest trading
partner by far. We have a 10 year $60 billion infrastructure plan in place which will provide jobs in the construction and ongoing.
Health Care
We have managed the growth of our health care budget. A new Ministry of Health program to go upstream is a first for Ontario. For example in Schools we have taken junk food out and made physical education classes mandatory. We banned trans fats and put in place healthy
cafeteria food based on the Canada’s Food Guide. This is the health promotion side. We have found a way to bring wait times down in hospitals for procedures and placed the results on line. Hospitals say we want to do more hips replacements for example and we chose the
most efficient hospitals to do the work. 40% of our health care cost is for people over 65 and we want to maintain that.. That segment is gong to double so we have to do more things to ensure we stay healthy longer.
