The Council of Ontario Universities welcomes the fiscal rebalancing initiatives announced in the federal budget and congratulates the provincial government in its work with the federal government to achieve a fair outcome for Ontario.

The improved arrangements for the Canada Social Transfer that ensure equal per capita cash support for Ontario, combined with the commitment of $800 million annual support for postsecondary education starting in 2008-09, will result in increased transfers of several hundred million dollars per year to Ontario. Ontario’s universities will work with the provincial government to develop a long-term plan to increase per capita support to Ontario universities to at least the national average, an amount requiring an additional $950 million per year.

Ontario universities also welcome the federal commitments for university education and research, particularly the increased funding for graduate scholarships and for the federal research granting councils. “We are especially pleased with the additional commitment of $510 million to the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), to help sustain the remarkable progress that has been made in the development of research infrastructure over the past decade,” said Dr. Ross Paul, Chair of the Council of Ontario Universities and President of the University of Windsor. “Ontario universities are eager to enter into discussions with the provincial government about provincial matching funds for CFI awards.”

We also are very pleased that this budget resolves outstanding issues on the Canada-Ontario Agreement and we look forward to the province releasing the $390 million funding for postsecondary infrastructure announced in last year’s federal budget.

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For further information, contact:

Jamie Mackay 
Vice-President, Policy and Analysis, COU
(416) 979-2165 ext. 209

Dr. Ross Paul
Council Chair and President, University of Windsor
(519) 253-4232 ext. 2000