A high quality education needs high quality learning infrastructure.

University recruitment brochures don’t talk about the true state of Ontario’s university campuses. Many universities don’t have enough space to accommodate the growing number of students. They have less than three-quarters of the space faculty and students need. Faculty and grad student have only four-fifths the laboratory and research facilities they require to do the cutting-edge research that makes Ontario’s economy thrive.

Projected enrolment increases over the next decade will make this over-crowding even worse. The Council of Ontario Universities estimates that $9.6 billion in infrastructure funding is needed by 2021 to ensure our institutions are able to accommodate a growing student population.

At the same time, existing facilities are aging. Labs and classrooms are deteriorating. Libraries are in need of new digital resources, and campuses are hard-pressed to upgrade and expand their technological infrastructure.

The Government of Ontario and the Government of Canada recently invested $1.1 billion in Ontario university infrastructure. While this funding is very important, it will primarily go towards the building new facilities. But universities also need to maintain and improve existing building. The money to do this needs to be invested through yearly operating grants, not as one-time cash infusions.

The bottom line?

The Ontario government should invest an additional $1 billion a year in university operating grants. These additional funds will provide the financial resources to ensure that university campuses, labs, classroom and libraries are equipped to deliver the best possible education experience to our students.

TAKE ACTION