Provincial government pulls $305 million plug
on three GTA university campus expansions
The GTA Construction Report staff writer
The Progressive Conservative
government has revoked funding for
three GTA university campus exten-
sions, including a $127.3 million
commitment for a York
University/Seneca College project in
Markham that was set to begin con-
struction by the end of the year.

The other two campuses can-
celled include a partnership be-
tween Wilfred Laurier University and
Conestoga College in Milton and
one in Brampton with Ryerson Uni-
versity and Sheridan College.

The latter two projects were to
receive $90 million each, bringing
the overall funding cancellation to
$305 million.

“We promised the people of On-
tario to restore accountability and
trust in Ontario’s finances,” training,
colleges and universities minister
Merilee Fullerton said in a state-
ment. “Part of that process means
making tough decisions about pro-
jects across Ontario.”
Markham and York Region offi-
cials indicated they hope to find a
way to continue the campus pro-
ject, with an original $253 million
budget. The City of Markham had
agreed to contribute land, with York
Region investing a further $25 mil-
lion. “York University is raising critical
funds for this important facility,”
York Region chair and CEO Wayne
Emmerson said in a statement.

The Globe and Mail quoted a
spokeswoman for Fullerton as say-
ing that the ministry is working with
the institutions to understand what
has been completed “and if there
are termination or reasonable wind-
down costs.”
“Our government would be will-
ing to consider a business case for
how these projects may proceed in
the absence of provincial capital
funding,” Stephanie Rae said.

In a joint statement, Seneca pres-
ident David Agnew and Rhonda
Lenton, York University’s president
and vice-chancellor, said the provin-
cial government informed them of
its “unexpected decision” late on
Oct. 23.

They said that the campus pro-
ject is “already well under way,”
with the design and development-
planning phase completed. “The
procurement process to secure a
construction firm is nearing comple-
tion and construction was set to
begin later this fall,” they wrote.

“We are committed to working
with all involved to determine if
there is a path forward that will still
meet the post-secondary needs of
York Region and its residents,” they
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