THUNDER BAY, ON  -  April 25, 2008  - Bill Mauro, MPP for Thunder Bay – Atikokan and Michael Gravelle, MPP for Thunder Bay – Superior North were pleased to announce today that Confederation College  will receive $264,910 this year in provincial funding to help them purchase new, modern equipment for classrooms and labs.

Colleges across Ontario will receive a total of $60 million in provincial funding over three years. Additional instalments will be made over the next two years.

Types of equipment this funding could be used for could include:

• Computers or software for classroom use
• Books or digital materials for libraries
• Equipment or machinery for lab instruction.

All of Ontario’s 24 colleges of applied arts and technologies will receive a portion of funding which they can spend on equipment most needed at the institution.

This funding is part of the $1.5 billion in investments announced in the 2008 Budget for Ontario’s colleges, universities and training programs.  It represents the government’s commitment to ensuring Ontario students have access to the best learning environments with the most current equipment and technology.  

  
QUOTES

"Confederation College has some of the best technology programs around.  This funding will help Thunder Bay keep up with changes in the industry and make sure students in Thunder Bay remain some of the most highly sought-after workers,” said Mauro.

“This funding will ensure that our Northwestern Ontario students have the modern equipment they need as they progress though their academic careers,” said Gravelle. “I am extremely proud of the fact that Confederation College has become a leader in technology based programs. Investments in our students is an investment in Northwestern Ontario’s future.”

QUICK FACTS

• 90.1 per cent of Ontario college graduates last year have already found employment, and 92.6 per cent of their employers are glad they hired them.
• More than 1 million students have graduated from Ontario’s colleges since they were founded in 1967.  In 2005, more than 59,000 students graduated from colleges in Ontario, up from 37,000 per year ten years earlier.